Question

In a class of 48 pupils 12 1/2% failed their mathematics test. How many students passed the test?

Answer 1

`42` pupils passed the test.

Explanation:

We can say that twelve and a half percent of forty-eight pupils failed their mathematics test.

We can translate this short statement from English to math:

`stackrel(12 1/2%) overbrace"Twelve and a half percent" stackrel(xx) overbrace"of" stackrel(48) overbrace"forty-eight pupils"`

`12 1/2%xx48" pupils"`

`0.125xx48" pupils"`

`6" pupils"`

Now we know that `6` pupils failed the math test. We also know that the total number of pupils minus the number of pupils who failed equals the number of pupils who passed, so:

`48-6`

`42` pupils passed the test.