SAT Math
Percentages
Percentages is a skill in the Problem-Solving and Data Analysis domain of the Digital SAT Math section. These are practice questions on it, and each answer choice comes with an explanation of why it is right or wrong.
11 questions. After every answer you’ll see why each choice is right or wrong, not just the one you picked.
Sample questions
Open a question to see the answer choices and the correct answer.
A store's annual revenue was $85,000 in one year and $102,000 the following year. What was the percent increase in revenue from the first year to the second year?
- A. 17%
- B. 120%
- C. 20% ✓
- D. 83%
Correct answer: C. The increase is $102,000 − $85,000 = $17,000, and the percent increase is $17,000 ÷ $85,000 = 0.20, or 20%.
The price of a jacket is $80 before a 25% discount is applied. After the discount, an 8% sales tax is applied to the discounted price. What is the final price of the jacket, in dollars?
- A. $66.40
- B. $60.00
- C. $86.40
- D. $64.80 ✓
Correct answer: D. The discounted price is $80 × 0.75 = $60.00, and applying 8% tax gives $60.00 × 1.08 = $64.80.
After a 20% increase, the price of a jacket is $96. What was the original price of the jacket, in dollars?
- A. $80 ✓
- B. $19.20
- C. $115.20
- D. $76.80
Correct answer: A. If p is the original price, then 1.2p = 96, so p = 96 ÷ 1.2 = $80.
The price of an item increases by 20% and then decreases by 25%. What is the overall percent change from the original price?
- A. a 10% decrease ✓
- B. a 5% increase
- C. no overall change
- D. a 45% decrease
Correct answer: A. Correct — the combined effect is a multiplication by 1.20 and then 0.75: 1.20 × 0.75 = 0.90, which represents a 10% decrease from the original price.
After a 15% discount, the price of a jacket is $102. What was the original price of the jacket?
- A. $117
- B. $120 ✓
- C. $117.30
- D. $135
Correct answer: B. Correct — if $102 represents 85% of the original price, then the original price is 102 / 0.85 = $120.