Arithmetic Word Problems Flashcards

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

Answer: $324

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

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

Answer: 50,160

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

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?

Answer: $72

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

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?

Answer: 99 m²

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

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?

Answer: $2,310

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

Pipe A fills a cistern in 4 hours; Pipe B empties it in 6 hours. If both are open at the same time, how long does it take to fill the cistern?

Answer: 12 hours

Net fill rate = 1/4 − 1/6 = 1/12; the cistern fills in 12 hours.

A TV is sold for $640 at a loss of 20%. What was the original cost price?

Answer: $800

Cost × 0.80 = $640; cost = $640 ÷ 0.80 = $800.