6th Grade Percent Word Problems - Free Printable

Here are the step-by-step solutions for each problem on the worksheet.

1) In a class of 30 children, 18 of the children have blue eyes. What percentage of the class have blue eyes?
* Step 1: Write the number of children with blue eyes over the total number of children as a fraction: $18 / 30$.
* Step 2: Simplify the fraction. Both numbers can be divided by 6.
* $18 \div 6 = 3$
* $30 \div 6 = 5$
* So, the fraction is $3/5$.
* Step 3: Convert the fraction to a percentage. To turn fifths into tenths (which is easy to make into a percent), multiply the top and bottom by 2.
* $3 \times 2 = 6$
* $5 \times 2 = 10$
* The fraction is now $6/10$, which equals $60/100$.
* Answer: 60%

2) In a packet of 40 skittles, 12 are red. What percentage of the skittles are red?
* Step 1: Write the number of red skittles over the total as a fraction: $12 / 40$.
* Step 2: Simplify the fraction. Divide both numbers by 4.
* $12 \div 4 = 3$
* $40 \div 4 = 10$
* The fraction is $3/10$.
* Step 3: Convert to a percentage. Since the denominator is 10, just multiply by 10 to get to 100.
* $3 \times 10 = 30$.
* Answer: 30%

3) Tyger spends 25 minutes studying mathematics, 35 minutes studying science and 40 minutes studying history. What percentage of his time is spend studying science?
* Step 1: Find the total amount of time spent studying. Add all the minutes together.
* $25 + 35 + 40 = 100$ minutes total.
* Step 2: Identify the time spent on science, which is 35 minutes.
* Step 3: Write this as a fraction of the total time: $35 / 100$.
* Step 4: Since the bottom number is already 100, the top number is the percentage.
* Answer: 35%

4) Frazer scores 70% in a test. If there are a total of 40 marks, how many marks did he get?
* Step 1: Change the percentage into a decimal or fraction. $70\% = 0.70$ or $7/10$.
* Step 2: Multiply the total marks by the decimal/fraction to find his score.
* $40 \times 0.7 = 28$
* (Or: $40 \div 10 = 4$, and $4 \times 7 = 28$)
* Answer: 28 marks

5) Toronto FC have lost 5 of the 20 games they have played. What percentage of games have they lost?
* Step 1: Write the number of losses over the total games as a fraction: $5 / 20$.
* Step 2: Simplify the fraction. Divide top and bottom by 5.
* $5 \div 5 = 1$
* $20 \div 5 = 4$
* The fraction is $1/4$.
* Step 3: Convert to a percentage. We know that $1/4$ is equal to $25/100$.
* (Alternatively, multiply numerator and denominator by 5: $1 \times 5 = 5$, $4 \times 5 = 20$... wait, easier way: $5/20$. Multiply top and bottom by 5 to get denominator 100. $5 \times 5 = 25$, $20 \times 5 = 100$. So $25/100$).
* Answer: 25%

6) In a group of 32 children, 25% have blue eyes. How many children do not have blue eyes?
* Step 1: Figure out what percentage of children do *not* have blue eyes.
* $100\% - 25\% = 75\%$.
* Step 2: Calculate 75% of 32.
* It is often easier to find 25% first and subtract it from the total, or multiply by 0.75.
* Let's find 25% (which is $1/4$) of 32: $32 \div 4 = 8$. So, 8 children have blue eyes.
* Step 3: Subtract the children with blue eyes from the total group to find those without.
* $32 - 8 = 24$.
* Answer: 24 children

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Final Answer:
1) 60%
2) 30%
3) 35%
4) 28 marks
5) 25%
6) 24 children