10 Percentage Word Problems to Test Your Skills

Mastering Percentage Word Problems: A Comprehensive Guide

Percentage word problems can be challenging, but with the right strategies and practice, you can become proficient in solving them. In this article, we will present 10 percentage word problems to test your skills, along with step-by-step solutions and explanations.

Problem 1: Discounted Price

A shirt is on sale for 15% off its original price of $25. How much will you pay for the shirt?

📝 Note: To find the discount, multiply the original price by the discount percentage.

Solution:

• Original price = $25
• Discount = 15% of 25 = 0.15 × 25 = $3.75
• Discounted price = 25 - 3.75 = $21.25

Problem 2: Increased Price

A book’s price increases by 20% from $15 to a new price. What is the new price?

📝 Note: To find the new price, multiply the original price by the increase percentage and add it to the original price.

Solution:

• Original price = $15
• Increase = 20% of 15 = 0.20 × 15 = $3
• New price = 15 + 3 = $18

Problem 3: Commission

A salesperson earns a 10% commission on a sale of $500. How much commission does the salesperson earn?

📝 Note: To find the commission, multiply the sale amount by the commission percentage.

Solution:

• Sale amount = $500
• Commission = 10% of 500 = 0.10 × 500 = $50

Problem 4: Tax

A person pays an 8% tax on a purchase of $120. How much tax does the person pay?

📝 Note: To find the tax, multiply the purchase amount by the tax percentage.

Solution:

• Purchase amount = $120
• Tax = 8% of 120 = 0.08 × 120 = $9.60

Problem 5: Markups

A store marks up a product by 25% from its wholesale price of $80. What is the new price?

📝 Note: To find the new price, multiply the wholesale price by the markup percentage and add it to the wholesale price.

Solution:

• Wholesale price = $80
• Markup = 25% of 80 = 0.25 × 80 = $20
• New price = 80 + 20 = $100

Problem 6: Decreased Price

A phone’s price decreases by 12% from $250 to a new price. What is the new price?

📝 Note: To find the new price, multiply the original price by the decrease percentage and subtract it from the original price.

Solution:

• Original price = $250
• Decrease = 12% of 250 = 0.12 × 250 = $30
• New price = 250 - 30 = $220

Problem 7: Percentage Increase

A company’s profits increase by 15% from $10,000 to a new amount. What is the new amount?

📝 Note: To find the new amount, multiply the original amount by the increase percentage and add it to the original amount.

Solution:

• Original amount = $10,000
• Increase = 15% of 10,000 = 0.15 × 10,000 = $1,500
• New amount = 10,000 + 1,500 = $11,500

Problem 8: Discounted Bundle

A store offers a 20% discount on a bundle of products that originally cost $100. If you buy the bundle, how much will you pay?

📝 Note: To find the discounted price, multiply the original price by the discount percentage.

Solution:

• Original price = $100
• Discount = 20% of 100 = 0.20 × 100 = $20
• Discounted price = 100 - 20 = $80

Problem 9: Tip

A person leaves a 15% tip on a restaurant bill of $40. How much tip does the person leave?

📝 Note: To find the tip, multiply the bill amount by the tip percentage.

Solution:

• Bill amount = $40
• Tip = 15% of 40 = 0.15 × 40 = $6

Problem 10: Interest Rate

A savings account earns a 4% interest rate on a principal amount of $1,000. How much interest is earned in one year?

📝 Note: To find the interest, multiply the principal amount by the interest rate.

Solution:

• Principal amount = $1,000
• Interest rate = 4% = 0.04
• Interest = 1,000 × 0.04 = 40

As you’ve seen, percentage word problems involve various real-life scenarios. To solve them, you need to understand how to calculate percentages, discounts, markups, and other related concepts.

By practicing with these 10 percentage word problems, you’ll become more confident in your ability to tackle similar problems in the future.

FAQ Section: