Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics (5733)Number and QuantityMedium

A quality control specialist is inspecting a batch of microchips. Out of 200 chips, 3% are found to be defective. How many microchips are defective?

  1. A20
  2. B10
  3. C6
  4. D3
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C. 6

To find the number of defective chips, convert the percentage to a decimal (3% = 0.03) and then multiply it by the total number of chips.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. This would be 10% of 200.
  • B. This would be 5% of 200.
  • D. This would be 1.5% of 200.

Percent of a Number

To find the percent of a number, convert the percentage to a decimal by dividing by 100, then multiply that decimal by the given number.

  • Percent means 'per hundred' or 'out of 100'.
  • To convert a percent to a decimal, divide by 100 (move decimal two places left).
  • The word 'of' in math problems often indicates multiplication.

Memory trick: Percent to decimal, then multiply the whole.

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