Content Table:

  1. Percentage Reminder
  2. Percentage and Decimals
  3. Free Test
  4. Calculate % Changes
  5. Using a % Calculator Function
  6. Implicit Percentage Used Words
  7. Reverse Percentage Questions
  8. Sample Questions
  9. How to Prepare

 

The concept of percentages is quite simple. It makes fractions seem more friendly and helps present relative differences and relations between numerical quantities.

Here's an overview of concepts and techniques that will help you answer percentage questions more efficiently.

 

 

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Numerical Reasoning Percentages Free Test

Test Time 3 min
Questions 6
Pass Score 8

A Quick Reminder About Percentages

We truly hope you are familiar with the following percentage formula: (if not, it's good to have you with us).

% = Fraction X 100

 

This formula allows us to alternate between fractions and their percent form. Let's take a look at the following example: If we decide to put 25 on the % side, we get the following equation:

25% = fraction X 100

 

If we divide the equation by 100, we get:

25/100 = 1/4 = Fraction

 

Therefore, 25% is merely another way of presenting 1/4. This formula is sometimes elaborated to include the components of a fraction (nominator and denominator), but for our purposes the formula above is satisfactory.


Percentages and Decimal Numbers

Many people find it easier to calculate percent changes using decimal numbers. Since a percent is actually a fraction, 1% can be written as 0.01. 

Therefore, increasing a number by 1% means multiplying it by (1+0.01)= 1.01, and decreasing a number by 1% means multiplying it by (1-0.01)=0.99. 

Thus, a percent increase means multiplying by numbers greater than one, and a percent decrease means multiplying by numbers that are smaller than one.


How to Calculate % Changes Without the Calculator's % Function

To speed up the calculation process, we shall use a different format of the above formula. From now on, when asked to calculate a percent increase in value, use the following formula:

% = [(value after change/value before change) - 1] X 100

 

When asked to calculate a decrease in value use this formula and then multiply by (-1), or use the +\- sign in your calculator.

Take a look at the following simplified example:

"The price of X was 30 and is now 40. What is the percent difference between the two prices..."

 

In this case it is clear that we are looking for an increase change, so we are looking for the ratio between 40 and 30, which constitutes the fraction in our formula:

[(40/30) - 1] X 100 = 33.33%

If you feel comfortable with numbers you can always skip the multiplication by 100 to get 0.33, and thus conclude that this represents 33%.

 

Here is another example with a decrease in value:

"The price of X was 40 and is now 30. What is the percent difference between the two prices..."

In this case, the new number has decreased in respect to the original. If we use the same formula, we get a negative number:

[(30/40) -1] X 100 = (- 25)%

 

This still represents the true absolute value we are looking for, so you can simply multiply by (-1) or use the +\- sign in your calculator to get the correct answer.

In theory, we could also switch places in the formula:

% = [1- (value before change/value after change)]X 100

However, this formula can slow down the calculation if we are using the simplest calculator, as it will require us for two steps because a subtraction precedes a multiplication.


How to Use the Calculator's % Function?

The % function simply multiplies a given product by 100. Therefore, after dividing the initial and final values - prior to pressing the = sign - press the % sign and the fraction you have entered will be multiplied by 100.

When measuring an increase:

  1. Divide: (value after change/value before change)
  2. Press the % sign
  3. Deduct 100

 When measuring a decrease:

  1. Divide: (value after change/value before change)
  2. Press the %

Try dividing 40 by 30 and then pressing the % button. You will get 133 which stands for 133%. Now deduct 100 and you will get 33% which tells you that 40 is 33% percent greater than 30. 


Implicit Words that Ask for Percentage Calculations

Popular words used by test writers to imply a percentage question are, ‘relative change’ and ‘relative difference’. However, these terms can be tricky. Oftentimes they are also used to refer to fraction word problems.

Thus, before you solve the question, take a peek at the answers to better determine if the discussed question is regarding percentages or fractions.

If you are solving a percentage problem, you can then do a quick calculation that involves multiplying the ratio by 100.

Here you will be able to compare the expressed ratio and unit-less number and conclude if there is a percentage change or difference from the original number.


Reverse Percentage Questions

It is quite popular to present a quantity that has gone through a percent change and ask its original value. The fastest way to get these calculations is the following: If a certain value is known to have been changed by a certain percentage, its original value can be found by dividing it by the decimal size it now comprises from the original:

[(Present value) / (Decimal size in relation to original value)] = (Original value before change)

Example:

Q: "A car's value was reduced by 10% and is now worth £900. What was its original price."

A: The car is now worth only 0.9 of its original value, as it experienced a 10% decrease. According to our formula:

[(900) / (0.9)] = 1000

Examine the following example:

Q: A car's value was increased by 10% and is now worth £550. What was its original price?

[(550)/(1.1)] = 500


Sample Questions

Looking for a little more info? Take a peek at a few sample questions below:

Sample Question 1

How much is 25% of 300mg?

The correct answer is 75

Sample Question 2

Benny received a delivery of 320 fresh tomatoes on Sunday. He sold 25% of that delivery. How many tomatoes remained in Benny's grocery shop by the end of that day?

The correct answer is 240

Option A:



Option B:

If Benny sold 25% of the tomatoes delivered, he is left with 75% of that delivery. Therefore,

Sample Question 3

At the "Cloth for You" shop, you can buy a top for £10.00 and a Bermuda trouser for £12.00. Due to a seasonal sell, there is a 20% discount on all tops. If you buy one top and two Bermuda trousers, how much money do you spend in total?


Preparing for Numerical Percentage Questions

Percentages can be a tricky skill to master, but it can be done with the right preparation and practice.

Numerical reasoning tests often feature percentage questions, either as a stand-alone question or as a calculation based on data presented in graphs, tables or charts.

Numerical Reasoning tests are increasingly becoming the norm in companies recruitment tests, and learning how to solve the various question types that feature on these tests can be the key to your success.

JobTestPrep offers tailored preparation packs for many companies that use numerical reasoning tests. You can use the form below to find your best fit.

test prep for numerical reasoning tests

More Free Practice

We at JobTestPrep find the assessment tests world highly diverse and fascinating. If you are looking to deepen your knowledge in the aptitude tests world, or you want some extra practice before your test, we've got you covered!

Check out these fantastic free practice tests (all are completely free):

Free Aptitude Test | Free Psychometric Test | Free Numerical Reasoning Test | Free Verbal Reasoning Test | Free Cognitive Test | Free Critical Thinking Test | Free Abstract Reasoning Test | Free Spatial Reasoning Tets | Free Personality Test | Free Inductive Test | Free Mechanical Reasoning Test  

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