What this skill covers
This domain is about applying arithmetic correctly to real-world setups rather than abstract algebra — percent change, unit rates, ratios, and basic probability from a table or description.
Percent questions are the highest-yield place to slow down: 20% off a price is not the same operation as a price that is 20% of another, and mixing up "percent of" with "percent off" is the single most common error type.
Worked examples
Example 1
A shirt originally priced at $40 is discounted by 25%. What is the sale price?
A. $30
B. $10
C. $35
D. $32
Why: 25% of $40 is $10, so the sale price is $40 − $10 = $30 — the wrong answer $10 comes from reporting the discount amount instead of the price after the discount.
Example 2
A survey of 200 students found that 30% prefer online classes. How many students is that?
A. 60
B. 30
C. 170
D. 600
Why: 30% of 200 is 0.30 × 200 = 60 — converting the percent to a decimal before multiplying avoids the common slip of using 30 directly as a count.
How to practice this on TSI Practice Prep
Open SAT Practice to answer original SAT questions on sAT Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, get an explanation for every choice, and see this skill tracked separately in your progress and mistake review.
Practice score estimates are learning indicators, not official scores or admission guarantees.
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