Percentage Word Problems (With Step-by-Step Solutions)
Percentage is one of the most widely used mathematical concepts in daily life. It is applied in discounts, profit and loss, marks, population growth, interest, and data comparison. Percentage word problems test not only calculation skills but also the ability to interpret real-life situations correctly.
In this article, you will find carefully selected percentage word problems with detailed explanations. Each solution is broken into simple steps so students can clearly understand the logic and avoid common mistakes.
Important Percentage Concepts
- Percentage means “per hundred”
- To find x% of a number: (x/100) × number
- Percentage Increase = (Increase / Original) × 100
- Percentage Decrease = (Decrease / Original) × 100
Solved Percentage Word Problems
Problem 1: Find 20% of 250
Solution:
20% = 20/100
20% of 250 = (20/100) × 250
= 50
Answer: 20% of 250 is 50
Problem 2: A shirt costing ₹800 is sold at a discount of 25%. Find the selling price.
Solution:
Discount = 25% of 800
= (25/100) × 800 = 200
Selling Price = Marked Price − Discount
= 800 − 200 = 600
Selling Price = ₹600
Problem 3: The price of a book increases from ₹200 to ₹260. Find the percentage increase.
Solution:
Increase = 260 − 200 = 60
Percentage Increase = (60 / 200) × 100
= 30%
Percentage Increase = 30%
Problem 4: A student scored 360 marks out of 500. Find the percentage of marks obtained.
Solution:
Percentage = (Marks Obtained / Total Marks) × 100
= (360 / 500) × 100
= 72%
Percentage of marks = 72%
Problem 5: The population of a town decreases from 50,000 to 47,500. Find the percentage decrease.
Solution:
Decrease = 50,000 − 47,500 = 2,500
Percentage Decrease = (2,500 / 50,000) × 100
= 5%
Percentage Decrease = 5%
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the wrong base value for percentage calculation
- Confusing increase with decrease
- Forgetting to divide by 100
- Misreading word problems
Practice Tips
✔ Always identify the base value clearly
✔ Write percentage as a fraction before calculating
✔ Re-check units and context in word problems
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