The result of increasing the quantity x by 400% is 60. What is the value of x? (SAT math percentage)

The result of increasing the quantity x by 400% is 60. What is the value of x?
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[@Sg190th]

I almost made that mistake until I realized it said increasing by 400% which is adding 4x the amount of the original, not multiplying it by 4x. In this case, we'd have to add 48 of 12 to get 60.

[@QaziHamzaAliSiddiqui]

SAT's are notorius for questions that are phrased badly - Just look at the coin rotation one. This though is pretty simple as noticing the word "increasing" would basically guarantee you the mark unless you mess up basic algebra.

[@DrewsOnFirst]

This isn't phrased badly. The wording is intentional and clear.

[@tejpalsingh366]

Q shud be framed clearly... No 2 thoughts.
Oterwise it will nake 2 qs

[@5piles]

@@DrewsOnFirst you think increasing ie. multiplying 12 by 4 is 60?

[@seanah6428]

⁠@@5piles Increasing doesn’t mean multiplying, it means adding. For example, increasing x by 5 means x + 5. So increasing x by 400% (of x) means x + 4x, which is 5x.

[@alexisespinoza-desjardins6362]

I’m using this as a studying, my finals are in a few day, so it’s relaxing, in a way.

[@davidhowe6905]

I told my students that, if I was in charge of things, percentage changes would NEVER be used; but I taught it them as preparation for the real world. This causes SO MUCH confusion, even in published, peer-reviewed papers! (e.g. a paper I read reporting a 160% reduction in a time interval between cause and effect).

[@tncshindiru2663]

Since it’s increasing by 400% i did x + 4x=60
5x=60
x=12

[@VaresBonne]

*feels proud and happy for myself I studied math and got it right first look*

[@yoshi7530]

Guys it says "bprp basics"

[@mccask]

This was an easy one. A 100% increase of 12 = 24. Keep going for 3 more 100 percent increases.

[@armanavagyan1876]

💪

[@mombanger2835]

Yeah i think i can pass sat now

[@justinhillard62]

So it's an English test 😁

[@neilgerace355]

That is why "four times larger" is NOT the same as "four times as large".

[@DerekGreen15]

Yeah, exactly. My PhD physics professor made the same mistake.

[@ExtremeUnction1988]

Those two statements ARE the same. Not the same as the example in the video.

[@neilgerace355]

@@ExtremeUnction1988 In modern US English they might be the same, but in mathematics they're not the same.

[@ExtremeUnction1988]

@@neilgerace355 so you’re saying making something “one-time(s)?” larger is the same as two times as large?

[@neilgerace355]

@@ExtremeUnction1988 Yes. One time is 100%. "100% larger" is the same as "twice as large".
It's not me saying it, it's the key to the answer of this question.

[@Brid727]

you can still do this by the first method but you have to think fast
since 400% of x was added to 100% of x, the total quantity makes it 500% of x which is equal to 60 according to the question
so, 500%*x = 60
(500/100)*x = 60
5x = 60
x = 12
i did think of your latter method when i stumbled upon this question and then i was like "how can i make a unique solution" and here is what i made

[@richardhole8429]

I, too. Did it your way. I always look for an easy solution.

[@tejpalsingh366]

Why u so confusec?? Its 4x+x= 60

[@neilgerace355]

Because these days most people think "four times more" = "four times as much", when it actually should be "five times as much".

[@bjornikd]

15

[@GodShiru]

Actually, the question as worded would give x = 56, as 400%=4, and the number that when increased by 4 gives 60, is 56.
The (of itself) is implied.
So, it's a poorly worded question, imho.

[@Orillians]

It's completely correctly worded in my opinion. I got the question right, and I have never done SAT math in my life

[@neilgerace355]

"increased by 4 times" = multiplied by 5.
"Increased by100%" doesn't mean "not changed". It means "doubled".

[@ranibro]

Sorry but the question is correct, "increasing something *BY*" means that you already have 100% and have to add 400% to it.
If you "increase something *TO*" then you don't have 100% to add 400%.

[@legend_legend_legend]

@@Orillians wow same

[@zachansen8293]

No, 400% is not 4. It means you MULTIPLY by four, but that is not four.

[@colmx8441]

Is the test at fault for making questions that are phrased badly or is it to be applauded for making questions that test your ability to notice misleading statistics (such as in advertising)? Just because you are confused doesn't make the question bad.
The trick here is to change the numbers to ones easier to understand.
Increasing 60 by 1% does not make the result 0.6, it makes it 60.6.
Increasing 60 by 50% does not make the end result 30, it makes it 90.
Increasing is even a term in maths, when you consider monotonic functions.

[@doge9737]

How is this supposed to be tricky? NO high school kid is supposed to make the mistake of calculating 4x=60 .xD

[@floweryfelix5190]

Why is this even on the SAT?I was taught stuff like this in 6th grade

[@daddymuggle]

I had a physics professor who thought it was exactly that.

[@Ninja20704]

It is because a lot of people can easily mistake increase BY 400% and increase TO 400%, especially if you don’t read and think about it carefully

[@daddymuggle]

@@Ninja20704 in my professor's case, I tried to talk her through it. Her reasoning broke down at 200%. Or maybe at 101%, it was a long time ago. She insisted that's just how it is.
There was no point wasting more class time on it.

[@rax1899]

It’s actually 5x=60