The number of pupils entering sports day this year is 20% higher than last year, after the school made entry compulsory for one extra year group. This year ...
Question 1 Report
The number of pupils entering sports day this year is 20% higher than last year, after the school made entry compulsory for one extra year group. This year there are 348 entrants. The school believes the rise reflects growing interest in sports day activities among pupils across all year groups.
- Work out how many pupils entered sports day last year. (3)
Answer Details
This question tests reversing a percentage increase to find last year's figure.
- Letting \(x\) be last year's number of entrants, a 20% increase means \(1.20x = 348\), so \(x = 348 \div 1.20 = \) 290 [3].
Divide the current figure by 1.20 to reverse a 20% increase; finding 20% of 348 and subtracting it (giving 278.4) does not correctly undo the increase, because 20% of this year's larger figure is not the same as 20% of last year's smaller one.
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