Percent Formula Word Problems Adapted from Rush Strong’s Powerpoint (Definitions and solutions added)

Definition of Terms Percent means per hundred and equals the “RATE” Amount is the portion of the beginning or base quantity The base is the quantity that represents the total or whole or beginning value The basic equation is Amount = Rate * Base

Problem 1 Brittany Berrier became a famous skater. She won 85% of her meets. If she had 250 meets in 2000, how many did she win?

Problem 1: Ignore extraneous 2000 Amount = Rate x Base Rate = 85 % or 85/100 or.85 Base = 250 A =.85 x 250 A =

Problem 2 Krystyl Ferguson worked at the zoo. If 3 of her 17 baboons were sick, what % were sick?  Amount = Rate x Base

Problem 2  Amount = Rate x Base Amount = 3 Base = 17 3 = Rate ( 17) 17 3/17 = Rate Rate = Rate = %

Problem 3 Matt Debord worked as a produce manager for Walmart. If 35 people bought green peppers and this was 28% of the total customers, how many customers did he have?

Problem 3  Amount = Rate x Base Amount = 35 Rate = 28% or =.28 Base.28 Base = 35÷.28 Base = 125

Problem 4 Emily Lower and Jasmine Parks were great WNBA ball players. They made $700,000 a year. If they owed 22% for taxes, how much did they pay in taxes?

Problem 4  Amount = Rate x Base Rate = 22%d or.22 Base = 700,000 Amount =.22 x 700,000 Amount = $154,000

Problem 5 Tiffany Lowery got 65 referrals during the year. If 14% of these were for tardies, how many times did she get caught for being tardy? She did not get caught every time!!

Problem 5  Amount = Rate x Base Rate = 14% or.14 Base = 65 Amount =.14 (65) Amount = 9.1 so 9 times

Problem 6 Brett Mull became a famous D.J. He played a total of 185 C.D’s in January. If he played 35 classical C.D.’s, what is the percent of classical C.D.’s he played.

Problem 6  Amount = Rate x Base Amount = 35 Base = = Rate (185) 35÷185 = Rate =.1892 or 18.9 % ÷ each side by 185

Problem 7 Brett Smith became a doctor. He fixed elephant trunks. He fixed 78.5% of all the elephants he treated. He fixed 45 elephant trunks. How many elephants did he treat in all.

Problem 7 Amount = Rate * Base Amount = 45 Rate = 78.5% or =.785 * Base 45 ÷.785 = or 57 elephants ÷ both sides by.785

Problem 8 Ashley Scalf became a famous golfer. She did occasionally hit one into the pond. If she hit 7 out of 85 hits into the pond, what percentage did she hit into the pond.

Problem 8 Amount = Rate * Base Amount = 7 Base = 85 7 = Rate (85) ÷ both sides by 85 7 ÷ 85 = or 8.2%

Problem 9 Sarah Roderick and Erin Lanning became Las Vegas show girls. If they paid $45,000 in taxes and they made $3,000,000 per year, what percentage did they pay in taxes?

Problem 9 Amount = Rate * Base Amount = 45,000 Base = 3,000,000 45,000 = Rate (3,000,000)÷ both sides by 3,000,000 45,000 ÷ 3,000,000 =.015 or 1.5 %