In the journey of preparing for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) and AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) 1 2024 Exam, one of the fundamental topics that plays a pivotal role is “Percentage.” Percentage is a topic that transcends academic boundaries and has a wide range of applications in our everyday lives. It is a critical concept not just for these exams but also for financial planning, data analysis, and more. In this blog, we will delve into the insights from the live class on Percentage – Class 1, highlighting the basic concepts, problem-solving methods, and essential formulae that can help you conquer this topic and excel in your exam.

Understanding the Basics

The foundation of mastering percentages begins with a clear understanding of what they represent. In simple terms, a percentage is a fraction of 100. It is a way to express a part of a whole in terms of hundredths. The symbol “%” represents a percentage. For example, 25% is the same as 25 out of 100, or 1/4.

Conversions: One of the first concepts discussed in the live class was conversions. Converting percentages to fractions and decimals is essential for solving complex problems efficiently. Here’s how you can convert percentages:

1. To Fraction: Divide the percentage by 100. For example, 25% becomes 25/100, which can be further simplified to 1/4.
2. To Decimal: Divide the percentage by 100. For example, 25% becomes 0.25 as a decimal.

Successive Changes

Successive changes involve making a series of changes to a value, one after the other. In percentage terms, this can involve increasing or decreasing a quantity by a certain percentage more than once. The live class covered formulae to handle such situations:

1. Increase Successively: If a value increases by x% and then by y%, the total increase can be calculated as [(100 + x) * (100 + y) / 100] – 100%.
2. Decrease Successively: If a value decreases by x% and then by y%, the total decrease can be calculated as [(100 – x) * (100 – y) / 100] – 100%.

Solving Percentage Problems

The live class also provided various methods for solving percentage problems efficiently:

1. Basic Formula: Percentage of a quantity = (Percentage / 100) * Quantity.
2. Finding Percentage Change: Percentage Change = [(New Value – Old Value) / Old Value] * 100%.
3. Percentage Increase/Decrease: To find the percentage increase or decrease from one value to another, you can use the formula [(New Value – Old Value) / Old Value] * 100%.
4. Finding the Original Value: If you have a final value and the percentage increase or decrease, you can find the original value using the formula [Final Value / (1 + (Percentage Increase/Decrease) / 100)].

Conclusion

Percentage is a foundational topic that not only holds importance in exams like CDS and AFCAT but also finds applications in various aspects of our daily lives. By mastering the basic concepts, conversions, and successive change formulae discussed in the live class, you equip yourself with the tools needed to excel in percentage-related problems. As you continue your exam preparation journey, remember that practice is key to mastery. Regular practice will help you build confidence in solving complex percentage problems and ensure that you shine in the upcoming CDS & AFCAT 1 2024 Exam. Good luck!