UPSC Prelims 2024 · CSAT

Question 26: Basic Numeracy

P's salary is 20% lower than Q's salary which is 20% lower than R's salary. By how much percent is R's salary more than P's salary?

a48·75%

b56·25%

c60·50%

d62·25%

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

Let R = 100. Q is 20% lower than R: 80. P is 20% lower than Q: 64. R exceeds P by 100 − 64 = 36, and the percentage is taken on P's salary: 36/64 × 100 = 56.25%. Remember to take the base of a 'more than' percentage as the figure being compared against, here P, the smaller one.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Wrong. 48.75% would make R 148.75 when P is 100; the actual figure is 156.25.
(b) Right. 36/64 = 0.5625, i.e. 56.25%.
(c) Wrong. 60.50% would make R 160.5 when P is 100; the actual figure is 156.25.
(d) Wrong. 62.25% would make R 162.25 when P is 100; the actual figure is 156.25.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious question Next question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2024, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.