Simple maths help

sigma

sigma

sigma

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Really embarrassed that I have to ask this but needs must.

I'm practicing online numeracy tests and I am bamboozled by the following question:

noobhelp.jpg


If the number of Bus passengers who are under 35 decreased by 0.8% next year, and 11% of this age group traveled by Bus, approximately how many commuters would be under 35?
Click to expand...

It must be something stupidly simple but I've been going over it again and again and I am confused to **** :o:o:o:o

Help :(
 
You can work the number of bus passengers for that year as you know the total and then the % of the total that used the bus.

For the following year that number has decreased by 0.8% to give you the next years figure. Those people then comprise 11% of the total figure.
 
e

425,600 x 0.12 = number who travelled by bus. (51072)

decreased by 0.8 %

51072 x 0.992 = 50663

which is 11% of the total

50663/0.11 = 460577 :)


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Its about manipulating percentages. I use decimals because i dislike percentages to be honest. 100% = 1. 50% = 0.5. etc...

which as people probably learnt at school is %/100
 
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Trick question if the quote is right, it simply asks how many commuters would be under 35. The answer will be 425600 same as this year as they haven't mentioned any change in demographics.

EDIT: Woops missed the drop in 0.8% of people under 35. Ignore the bus part entirely then and just take 0.8% off 425600:

425600 * 0.992 = 422195

Unless you meant 8% drop which would be :

425600 * 0.92 = 391552
 
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Darg said:
Trick question if the quote is right, it simply asks how many commuters would be under 35. The answer will be 425600 same as this year as they haven't mentioned any change in demographics.

EDIT: Woops missed the drop in 0.8% of people under 35. Ignore the bus part entirely then and just take 0.8% off 425600:

425600 * 0.992 = 422195

Unless you meant 8% drop which would be :

425600 * 0.92 = 391552
Click to expand...

Its a maths question. Its not a trick question asking for semantic meaning...

Take it at face value.
 
I make it as 460576.5818 as one of the above posters has too.

As above, take the whole population and find out how many currently take the bus, decrease this by 0.8% then work out how this corresponds to the whole population as you know this number is 11%.
 
It's not actually that simple wrt the average numpties intelligence, mathematically however it's just percentages and knowing how to turn words into formulae.
 
Ah, I see! Thanks!

I was decreasing the 12% to 11.2% :rolleyes:

The questions don't appear to be very difficult but add in time pressure and things can go wrong easily :\
 
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