Maths test - to think Civil Service have it wrong?

[Sharingaroomtinightthen]

I’ve just applied for a Civil Service test. Part of it is passing a numerical test.

This is the question.

The answer is 125%. I’m sure of it.

If you start with £100, and in the first year it doubles it’s £200. So at the of year one it’s £200.

In year two it trebles to £600.

It then falls by a quarter in the third year to £450.

So end of year 1 - £200.

End of year 3 - £450.

It’s increased by 125%.

125% isn’t an answer option.

WIBU to email and tell them they’ve got it wrong?

Ah, right... so they do mean the difference between the first and second amount, expressed as a percentage?

I suggested the other way as a way of making the 225% answer fit. I'd be interested to know what response OP might get if they do question it?

OP, please update :0)

Horsie, I’m afraid that you’ve lost it. Have you been on the wine? If a 25% increase gave you an 125g can (compared to an 100g “normal” can), how could an 100% increase give you just an 100g can when 100% is four times 25%???

If Heinz advertised an 100% increase and still only sold you an 100g can, it would be straight to Trading Standards with them.

Take a good look at the link a poster put above about how to calculate percentage increases.

Also, if you can’t see why 1 x 1 =1 when 1+ 1 = 2, try replacing “times” or “multiply” with “sets of”. Eg: 1 set of 1 = 1. 2 sets of 1 = 2. (2 sets of 1 is the same as 1 + 1). 3 sets of 1 = 3 — and so on. In this way you can also think of multiplication as a form of repeated addition.

If you have a carrot and are given another carrot what is the increase in carrots in percentage terms?

@Sharingaroomtinightthen I just realised, you ARE the OP.... I really must go to sleep!

The question is:
bla bla increase
What was the percentage increase in circulation?

Simplify the question:
x increased to y
what percentage of x is y?

Or with your numbers
200 increased to 450
What percentage of 200 is 450?

Answer: 225% of 200 is 450

Your error is one of interpretation.

The key is that ‘what was the percentage increase’ is not the same as ‘by what percentage did it increase’ - you are answering the latter

Or in other words, yes it did increase by 150% but the percentage increase is 225%

It literally says percentage increase.

345% of 99 red balloons

Answer: 225% of 200 is 450

225% of 200 is indeed 450, but the question is asking what the percentage increase is.

200+125%=450

200+225%=650

Try it with a calculator.

Yes, I have lost it. It's late and Horsie feels like crying now. I tried to delete my response and my hooves couldn't do it!

I was convinced the answer was 225% but I found a percentage increase calculator - in fact, two of them - and it does say that the answer is 125%. Looks like the Civvy Service has it wrong! And apologies to you. 🙈

Whoever wrote those answers - at least, the 225% one - is thinking of 225% of 450, not a percentage increase from 200 to 450. As was I.

I clearly do not know how to do percentage increases.

Circulation at the end of year three is 225% of the circulation at the end of year one.

Circulation at the end of year three has increased by 125% from the end of year one.

OP is correct that expressed as percentage increase the answer is 125%.

Wow the % of YABU has increased after 500 responses and lots of explanations.

How is this still going after 20 odd pages? 😂

OP is clearly correct.

This entire thread is an indictment of the quality of British education - at least, if you went to state school, like me.

What is the percentage increase from 200 to 450 means how do the two numbers compare ( in percentage) so it is asking what percentage of 200 is 450.

There is some diabolical maths on this thread. And lack of ability to read and understand what the question is asking. OP has the patience of a saint

I know the above is correct because I found two percentage-increase calculators, and they said 125%.

But I don't understand how the two things above are different. If 450 is 225% of 200, how is that not the same as an increase of 225%? I don't understand how 450 is 225% of 200 - i.e. an increase of 225% - but the increase is actually only 125%.

But it’s not asking for 125% of 100. It’s asking for an increase

I think I'm just beginning to learn the difference. 🙈

OP are you ok? You have spent hours replying to mn messages 91 times and repeating yourself until after 3am. Does it matter if a bunch of strangers think you are wrong?

sorry if I’ve missed this but what did you r answer? The question is worded badly but the answer is clearly meant to be 225. Did you not realise this and answer something else? You say your mark is lower than it should have been.

Also thousands of people have now read this thread… possibly including the recruiter. Don’t report it.

Look at it like a ratio.

450:200 as a ratio is 2.25:1, the difference between 2.25 and 1 is 1.25 so it’s an increase Of a 1.25 multiple which is 125%

yes If something doubles its 200% of original value. Original value is 100%. 200-100 is 100 so it’s a 100% increase

And that 25% more you buy is an INCREASE of 25%.

If thw newspaper sold 100 papers in year 1, then 100 papers in year 2, there wouldnt be an increase.

By some posters' logic, staying exactly the same would be a 100% increase.

Multiplication and difference.
200 is the base number and 450 is the final number. 450 is 2.55 TIMES the base number but 1.25 times MORE THAN the base number. Hence 450 is 225% of the base number but an increase of 125% of the base number.

Take 10 as the base number and 40 as the final number. 40 is 4 times 10 but 30 more than 10. That 30 is the increase or difference.
4times =400%
3times=300%

So 40 is 400% of 10 but a 300% increase from 10.