Solving problems with percentages

Percentage increase

Question 5

Mira made this table showing population data over 2 years for the 6 Australian states.
Some data for South Australia is not shown.

Population of Australian states
	2002 population	2003 population	Percentage increase from previous year
NSW	6 662 212	6 716 277	0.8%
Vic	4 884 952	4 947 985	1.3%
Qld	3 754 154	3 840 111	2.3%
SA	1 522 475	?	0.6%
WA	1 936 902	1 969 046	1.7%
Tas	474 305	479 958	1.2%

What was the population of South Australia (SA) closest to in 2003?

a

2 537 500

b

2 436 000

c

1 613 800

d

1 531 600

 

Solution

Method 1: by hand

0.6% of 1 522 475	= \(\dfrac{0.6}{100}\) × 1 522 475
	= \(\dfrac{6}{1000}\) × 1 522 475
	= \(\dfrac{9134850}{1000}\)
	= 9134.85

Population in 2003 = 1 522 475 + 9134.85 = 1 531 609.85

Method 2: by hand

The 2003 population	= 1 522 475 + 0.6% of 1 522 475
	= 1 522 475 (1 + 0.6%)
	= 1 522 475 × 1.006

Method 3: By calculator

1.006 × 1 522 475 = 1 531 609.85

The answer is d 1 531 600.

 

Other questions of this type

Solution of Question 5, continued