GCAT Arithmetic Word Problems 4

Question 1

A school bought 25 calculators at $14.40 each and received a 10% bulk discount. How much did the school pay in total?

Accepted Answer

$324

Answer

25 × $14.40 = $360; $360 × 0.90 = $324.

Question 2

A town's population of 48,000 decreased 5% one year, then increased 10% the next year. What is the population after two years?

Accepted Answer

50,160

Answer

48,000 × 0.95 = 45,600; 45,600 × 1.10 = 50,160.

Question 3

Three friends share a $156 restaurant bill. Alex pays twice as much as Ben, and Chris pays $12 more than Ben. How much does Alex pay?

Accepted Answer

$72

Answer

Let Ben = b; 2b + b + (b + 12) = 156 → 4b = 144 → b = 36; Alex = 2 × 36 = $72.

Question 4

A rectangular garden is 18 m long and 12 m wide. A path 1.5 m wide is built all around the outside. What is the area of the path alone?

Accepted Answer

99 m²

Answer

Outer area = 21 × 15 = 315 m²; inner area = 18 × 12 = 216 m²; path = 315 − 216 = 99 m².

Question 5

A salesperson earns a $1,200 monthly base salary plus 6% commission on all sales. In one month she sold $18,500 in goods. What were her total earnings?

Accepted Answer

$2,310

Answer

$1,200 + (0.06 × $18,500) = $1,200 + $1,110 = $2,310.

GCAT - General Cognitive Ability Test Practice Test

GCAT - General Cognitive Ability Test Practice Test

GCAT Arithmetic Word Problems 4