Name:_____________________________________________________

These percent problems come from the math placement test at EMU.
Being able to do them is a prerequisite for Math 110.  If it has
been long enough since you did percents that you cannot get eleven of
them correct, you will need to spend some extra time relearning percents.
I will be happy to work with you in my office hours.  Or if you prefer,
you can visit the EMU math tutoring center.

Here are the most useful formulas for work with percents. In them, we always
use the percentage in its decimal form.
percent = part / whole
percent change = (new value / old value) - 1
new value = (1 + percent change) * old value

Write your answer directly to the left of the problem number, and turn in this sheet.


1. Write 6.4% as a decimal number

2. At State College, 25% of the students are freshmen.  If there are 4,000
at State, how many are freshmen?

3. 4 is what percent of 25?

4. If the sales tax rate is 6%, how much tax would you pay on a book that costs $20?

5. The student enrollment at State College increased from 20,000 to 35,000 over
an 8 year period.  What was the percent increase?

6. 62.5% of what number is 40?

7. In a speech class, there are 28 freshmen.  If this is 80% of the class,
how many students are in the class?

8. An item is on sale for $24.  The sale price represents a 20% discount off
the original price.  What was the original price?

9. The price of an item dropped from $60 to $36.  What was the percent decrease?

10. What is 50% of 27?

11. The sale price is $42.50.  Find the regular price if the sale price was 15%
off the regular price.

12. Twenty-nine is 5.8% of what number?

13. 45% of the students at PS High attended an assembly.  If 288 students
attended the assembly, how many students are enrolled at the school?