Simple Maths Things That Most Get Wrong?

[ToraToraTora]

I'll start: What is 60% ÷ 20%?

[newmodarmy]

I'm not sure when you'd do that calculation but I'd just do mentally 0.6/0.2= 3

[newmodarmy]

I think something like 10  ÷ ⅕ is a better example

[ToraToraTora]

nope it's a percent so the answer should be a percent.

[ToraToraTora]

11:28 that's easy 50.

[newmodarmy]

and just to clarify for yours the answe 3 would equate to 300%

[davebro3]

13.3333 %

[newmodarmy]

Of course mine was easy but many would get it wrong- but not a MENSA memeber obviously.

And my 3 was right- you didn't specify the answer had to be a %, but I anticipated your resonse but was a few seconds too late

[ToraToraTora]

yes it's 300% but most say 3.

[ToraToraTora]

"And my 3 was right- you didn't specify the answer had to be a %, but I anticipated your resonse but was a few seconds too late" - it's generally the case that the answer should be in equivalent terms of the question.

[davebro3]

percentages don't commonly appear in arithmetic expressions?

[newmodarmy]

3 is fine- it's only wrong IMO if they say 3% which I imagine some would, especially when put on the spot

[newmodarmy]

I'd be interested to know of a situation where you'd want to calculate 60% ÷ 20% . Although to be fair I can't immediatey think of a situation where you'd want to do my calculation of  10  ÷ ⅕.

Can you explain why first answer of 3 was wrong? 

[newmodarmy]

Sorry, just seen your 11:33 post

[newmodarmy]

I'm not sure I agree- I'm sure an examiner would give full marks to an answer of 3.

What's 4 bottles of milk divided by two bottles of milk? It's 2 , not 2 bottles of milk

[ToraToraTora]

OK here's another you go into a shop and by a drink and a chocalate bar for £1.50 the drink costs £1 more than the chocolate bar. How much was the chocolate bar?

[Ken4155]

25p

[Mozz71]

£1.25 and 25p.

 

I can't believe that most people would get that wrong.

[Ellipsis]

The tax rate has gone up from 10% to 15%. What is the percentage increase?

[Mozz71]

Ellipsis - 50%

[Ellipsis]

Yep, "Simple Maths Things That Most Get Wrong" but not everyone ...