If 60 percent of students pass a test and there are 150 students in total, how many pass?

• A. 60
• B. 90
• C. 120
• D. 75

Answer: (B)

Percent tells you part of a whole, so you find how many pass by taking the percentage of the total students. Convert 60 percent to a decimal (0.60) and multiply by the total: 150 × 0.60 = 90. So 90 students pass. Quick check: 10% of 150 is 15, and 60% is six times that, which also gives 90. The other numbers would come from other percentages (40% gives 60, 50% gives 75, 80% gives 120), but with 60 percent of 150, you get 90.