MATH n = ra =) Now cross multiply. Then divide by the third known term: Sats] 5715 45 and 45 + 5 =9. There are nine male students in the class. Pers ‘To verify this answer, check the cross products: a_9 3-H 7308)=519) 3 45-45 PROPORTION METHOD FOR PERCENTAGES Proportions give us a very powerful way to calculate percentages manually, Most percentages ccan be expressed this way: Apartis equal to a percent of a whole, such as “80 is equal to 25% of 320.” In any percentage question, one of these three elements will be missing = Missing part: What number is equal to 25% of 3207 = Missing percent: 80 is equal to what percent of 320? ‘= Missing whole: 60 is equal to 25% of what number? ‘= The partis always next to the word "is.” ‘= The whole is always next to the word “of.” Percentage questions can be set up as proportions using the following format: part (is) __ percent (%) whole (oh 100 Missing part: What number is equal to 25% of 320? xis) _ 25 ogy, 320 (0 ~ 1001 3,000 ~>8,000-+10 Missing percent: 80 is equal to what percent of 320? 80 (is) 320 (of) Note that we reduced the ratio on the left by a factor of 10 before we cross multiplied. This is ‘a good way to make the calculation easier. In fact, we could have reduced further: 80(is) 8 1 1 x 320 (of) ‘Missing whole: 80 is equal to 25% of what number? 804s) 25__, 80 (of) 1007" x ~ Note that this time, we reduced the ratio on the right. 216 HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE GED® TESTPERCENT CHANGE Some questions will ask you to work with an increase or a decrease of a number or a percentage. The increase or decrease goes “from one (original) value “to” another (new) value. An increase makes the new value higher, and a decrease makes it lower. ‘To answer these questions, you'll need to work with the following proportion: difference __%_ . ‘original ~ TOO ‘The difference is the amount of change from the original value to the new value: «= For increases, the new value will be larger: difference = new - original. Anincrease from, 6 to 11 isa difference of 11-6 1 For decreases, the new value will be smaller: difference = original new. A decrease from. 19 to 12 is a difference of 19 —1: ‘The percent (%) change is the difference represented as a percentage of the original. When given a value for percent change, pay attention to whether the change is an increase or a decrease, For a percentage increase, the new value will be lager than the original. Let’s look at a common situation to explain tis topic—xipping a server aftera mel. (2) Assume that a meal costs $60 before the tip. This $60 is the original price. @) Your server did an excellent job, so you decide to tip 20%. Determine what amount equals 20%. difference (tip) ‘original 100 difference (ip) _ 20 _ 1, digerence tipj= $8020. Foe = Be = 2 aitference (tip)= 58020 - 512 Therefore, «20% tip equals $12. (@) You actually pay $72 for the meal ($60 + $12 = $72). This $72 is the new price. You can look at this situation in two ways: either the original price as a percent of the new price or the new price as a percent of the original price 1 Original as a percent of new: original price __x new price ~ 100 Ig _X__, 100)(5) 106 3.33... =83% ‘The original price is about 83% of the new price. MATHEMATICAL REASONING 217 MATH N 5 z =)MATH 2 re z =) = New as percent of original: 100 -=120=120% ‘The new price is 120% of the original price. Note that although the numbers are all the sarne—original amount is $60, new amount is $72, and difference is $12—the way you look at the numbers affects the percentage increase. For a percentage decrease, the new value will be smaller than the original. Let’s look at a ‘common situation to explain this topic—buying a shirt on sale. (1) Assume that the shirt originally costs $40. The $40 is the original price. @ The sale discounts the original price by 10%. Determine what amount equals 10%, difference (discount) __x_ ‘original 100 ‘Therefore, a 10% discount equals $4. @) You actually pay $36 for the shirt ($40 ~ $4 = $36). This $36 is the new price. You can look at this situation in two ways: either the original price as a percent of the new price or the new price as a percent of the original price. ‘= Original as a percent of new: original price x mew price ~ 100 $40 _10__x__, aoo)a0) 3 # ALLL... 111%, The original price is about 111% of the new price. 1» New as percent of original: new price __x ‘original price ~ 100 ooy(9) 10 =x=90=90% ‘The new price is 80% of the original price. 218 HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE GED® TESTNote that although the numbers are all the same—original amount is $40, new amount is, $836, and difference is $4—the way you look at the numbers affects the percentage decrease. In any percent change question, one of these three elements will be missing: '= Missing difference: What number is equal to a 20% change from 250? '= Missing percentage: 50 is equal to what percent change from 250? '= Missing new or original: 80 is equal to a 20% change from what number? Proportions can be used to answer any of these question types: MISSING DIFFERENCE Assume the new number's 15% greater than the original, which s 600. ‘What number is equal to 15% of 600? x z Bao = Ton 9:000= 100+ 9,000+100=90 ‘The number equal to 15% of 600 is 90.Even though it wasn’t asked, you should know that the new number is 600 + 90 = 630. MISSING PERCENTAGE Assume the original is 180, and itis reduced by 45. 45is equal to what percent of 180? a Ta0~ Too ‘The number 45 is 25% of 180, ‘100 a yag 7 100= 4x 100+4=25 MISSING NEW Assume the original was 300 and was reduced by 25%. (Remember that this makes the new number 75% of the original, because 100% ~ 25% = 75%.) What number is 75% of 300? eee Bt, 300“ 100” 300 ‘The number 225 is 75% of 300. MISSING ORIGINAL Assume the newis 195 after an increase of 30%, (Remember that this makes the new 130% of the original, because 100% + 30% = 130%.) 195 is 130% of what number? 950 1,950+13=150 ‘The number 195 is 130% of 150. RATE CALCULATIONS Proportions can be used to perform calculations involving rates, lke speed in miles per hour. At 60 miles per hour, how far will you travel in 4 hours? To answer this question: First set up a proportion with the per unit (hours in this case) on the top of the left ratio: hour "_ 4 hours 0 miles ~ x miles Solve the proportion: 14. Beto r20 At 60 miles per hour, you will travel 240 miles in 4 hours. MATHEMATICAL REASONING 219 MATH N a z =)