Reverse Percentages

Jackie has been on a fitness regime. Her personal trainer says she
has gained 10% extra muscle. Her muscle mass is now 22kg.
What was her muscle mass before she began her fitness regime?
Increase 100% by 10%
Top Tips
110% = 22kg 1) What does the Q say?
• Reduce – subtract from 100%
÷11 Divide to get 10% ÷11 • Increase – Add to 100%

10% = 2kg 2) Then we

• Divide to get either 10% or 1%
x10 Multiply to get 100% x10 • Multiply to get 100%

100% = 20kg Her original muscle

mass was 20kg.

St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School

 WHITEBOARDS
Top Tips
In a sale, normal prices are reduced by 1) What does the Q say?
20%. • Reduce – subtract from 100%
• Increase – Add to 100%
Andrew bought a saddle for his horse in
the sale. 2) Then we
The sale price of the saddle was £220. • Divide to get either 10% or 1%
• Multiply to get 100%
Calculate the normal price of the saddle.

80% = 220
÷8 ÷8
10% = 27.5
x10 x10
100% = £275

St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School

 WHITEBOARDS
Top Tips
The price of an antique watch has 1) What does the Q say?
increased by 40%, it is now worth £2800. • Reduce – subtract from 100%
What was it’s original value? • Increase – Add to 100%

2) Then we
140% = £2800 • Divide to get either 10% or 1%
÷14
• Multiply to get 100%
÷14
10% = £200
x10 x10
100% = £2000

The original value was £2000

St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School

 WHITEBOARDS
Top Tips
CALCULATOR ALLOWED 1) What does the Q say?
Due to COVID regulations, a festival had • Reduce – subtract from 100%
• Increase – Add to 100%
to reduce its numbers by 24%. They
were only allowed 1806 people. 2) Then we
• Divide to get either 10% or 1%
How many were they allowed originally?
• Multiply to get 100%

86% = 1806
÷86 ÷86
1% = 21
x100 x100
100% = 2100
There were 2100 people allowed originally!

St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School

In your books - lets try some exam Q
1) Non calculator Kingsley buys a portable Bluetooth speaker.
The speaker has been reduced by 20% in a sale.
He pays £72 for the speaker in the sale.
What was the original price of the speaker?

2) Calculator allowed A television was reduced in the sale by 26% of its

original price. It cost Marta £710.40 in the sale.
What was the original price of the television?

3) Calculator allowed Gwilym takes an old clock to be valued.

It is valued at £56.
The clock has decreased in value by 30% from last year.
Calculate how much the clock was worth last year.

St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School

 Answers
1) Non calculator Kingsley buys a portable Bluetooth speaker.
The speaker has been reduced by 20% in a sale. 80% = £72
He pays £72 for the speaker in the sale. 10% = £9
What was the original price of the speaker? 100% = £90

2) Calculator allowed A television was reduced in the sale by 26% of its

original price. It cost Marta £710.40 in the sale. 74% = £710.40
What was the original price of the television? 1% = £9.60
100% = £960
3) Calculator allowed Gwilym takes an old clock to be valued.
It is valued at £56.
The clock has decreased in value by 30% from last year. 70% = £56
Calculate how much the clock was worth last year.
10% = £8
100% = £80

St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School