UPSC Prelims 2001 · General Studies
Question 143: Basic Numeracy
A city has a population of 3,00,000 out of which 1,80,000 are males. 50% of the population is literate. If 70% of the males are literate, the number of literate females is
AnswerThe answer is (a).
A population of 3,00,000 with 1,80,000 males means 1,20,000 females. Total literates are 50 per cent of 3,00,000, i.e. 1,50,000. Male literates are 70 per cent of 1,80,000, i.e. 1,26,000. So literate females = 1,50,000 - 1,26,000 = 24,000. Remember to find the total first and then subtract the males.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right: 24,000.
- (b) 30,000 would mean only a quarter of the females are literate, which the figures do not give.
- (c) 54,000 is the number of illiterate males, not literate females.
- (d) 60,000 is half the female population, which wrongly assumes half the females are literate.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2001, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.