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?

Proof that numerical literacy is not required for a high salary.

Yes but a numerical test to assess somebody's basic maths competency should have a right answer!

What do you get if you increase 200 by 100%

I agree with you op and I suspect it’ll be an anomaly question scoring wise as I imagine that test question is one that is pitched at more senior grades where there will be lots of very numerate people taking the test. I have found though the tests at the more senior grades are deliberately designed to be ambiguous and awkward. If you’re not arguing with at least one question, you’ve most likely missed something.

Yes this is what i think it might be, but worded stupidly.

200 x a =450
a= 450/200 =2.25

so it’s 225 %

sorry but it’s your maths that is wrong

It's not two and a half times, it's one and a half times from the end of year one. 150%.

I love the way so many MNetters have engaged with this Maths/arithmetic
question late on a Friday night.

So much for Mumsnetters being only interested in nappies or hateful rights-hoarding dinosaurs, as some people on other bits of social media seem to think.

That's not times . That's an X (as in algebra)

No. A 100% increase doubles a number. 200 to 400.

I agree with you

What do you get if you increase 200 by 100%

Oh sorry, wasnt clear to me

First before arguing about the answer

To reiterate the answer is 225%

The question says from the end of year one to the end of year three.

It does not say between

therefore it is an accumulative growth percentage and the 300% increase in year two must be taken into account.

That's not how you calculate a percentage increase!!
It's (450-200)/200 =125%

No. I am right based on the rules of maths. The question asks for the percentage increase from end of year one to end of year three. There is one possible answer.

If we agree the £ is 450 with fixed results options?

Its poor english usage 🤷‍♀️

Your boss wants to do a projection.
Sales start at zero
You need the current % retained and then add on %

In theory it could be a cost cut of % reduction

It doesn't actually make any difference which you read it as.

But, despite that, I was wrong!

These answers are terrifying!!!! (Definitely 125% btw…maths examiner here)

What is the percentage increase between 200 and 400? It’s 100%, not 200%.

In one year the circulation doubled.

it is not clear if the doubling happened on the last day of year one or the first day of year two.

if the year starts on Jan 1st are they counting the next circulation figures on Dec 31st or Jan 1st the next year. It will make a difference to the maths. 🤷‍♀️

This is why you don’t trust even a fairly well educated audience to understand percentages and statistics. Percentage increase is one that most people don’t understand at all, even if they are pretty numerate!

I’ve seen the fast stream recruitment process up close (and even took the tests myself once upon a time), and actually I think setting this kind of test across all fast stream applications doesn’t actually sift the right people. It’s quite an old-fashioned recruitment method and fast stream also relies on some very specific psychometric/data/workplace scenario/roleplay testing which can not only be gamed, but don’t necessarily attract the right people either. IMO their whole recruitment process is overcomplicated and designed for a fantasy of yesterday’s workplace.

If I am selling 200 papers at the end of year 1 and am selling 450 papers at the end of year 3, and you tell me - you have increased your circulation by 225%, I would question your maths.

But was it marked as correct or not? You said you should have passed with a higher percentage, so it sounds like 225% wasn't counted as the correct answer after all either. (And I agree, it's not 225%, so that would be fine with me!)

Or did you put something else as the answer?

Well I agree with OP but I can't think anyone would be convinced or reassured by that bizarre Chat GPT answer you quoted!