Question

In a class $48$ pupils $12\dfrac{1}{2}\% $ failed their Mathematics test. How many students passed the test?

Answer 1

Hint: As we know that the above given question is a word problem. A problem is a mathematical question written as one sentence or more describing a real life scenario where that problem needs to be solved by the way of mathematical calculation. We can solve the given problem by applying the method of mathematical equations and then simplify it.

Complete step by step solution:
We need to first understand the requirement of the question which is the number of students that passed the test.
According to the question we have $12\dfrac{1}{2}\% $of $48$ pupils failed their Mathematics test. We can convert this statement into mathematical terms i.e. $12\dfrac{1}{2}\% \times 48$. We will solve it now.
By breaking the mixed fraction and converting the percentage we have: $\dfrac{{25}}{{2 \times 100}} \times 48 = \dfrac{{25}}{{200}} \times 48$.
On further solving: $0.125 \times 48 = 6$ .
Now we know that $6$ pupils failed the mathematics test. We also know that the total number of pupils minus the total number of pupils who failed equals the number of pupils who passed.
Above statement means: $48 - 6 = 42$ pupils passed the test.

Hence the required number of passed students is $42$.

Note: We should always be careful about the data given in the question i.e. percentage of failed students not the number of students. Also we should know that in Mathematics the term “of” means to multiply. Based on the requirement and by observing all the necessary information that is already available in the question we gather the information and then create an equation or by unitary method whichever is applicable, then we solve the problem and then verify the answer by putting the value in the problem and see whether we get the same answer or not.