"Spot the Percentage 2A" math worksheet featuring eight percentage-based word problems with illustrations.

Let’s solve each problem one by one. The key idea is that in each scenario, the percentages of all possible outcomes must add up to 100%, unless otherwise specified (like in problem 4, where “not diesel” is a complement).

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Problem 1:

> A shop sells chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice creams. 45% are vanilla, 17% are strawberry. What percentage are chocolate?

✔ Solution:
Total = 100%
Chocolate = 100% - vanilla - strawberry
= 100% - 45% - 17% = 38%

✔️ Answer: 38%

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Problem 2:

> An animal park has lions, tigers and zebras. 17% are lions and half the animals are zebras. What percentage are tigers?

✔ Solution:
Half = 50% → zebras = 50%
Lions = 17%
Tigers = 100% - 50% - 17% = 33%

✔️ Answer: 33%

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Problem 3:

> LA Galaxy have won 68% of their soccer matches. What percentage have they lost?

⚠️ Important Note: In soccer, matches can be won, lost, or drawn. So “lost” is not necessarily the complement of “won” — there could be draws!

But the question asks for “what percentage have they lost?” — implying it wants the *losses only*, assuming no draws? Or perhaps it’s expecting us to assume only wins and losses.

However, in real soccer, draws exist, so if we assume only wins and losses, then:

Lost = 100% - 68% = 32%

But if draws are possible, we cannot know the loss percentage without more info.

➡️ This might be the impossible problem! Let’s hold off and check others first.

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Problem 4:

> Out of the 250 million cars on the road in the US, about 3% are diesel. What percentage are not diesel?

✔ Solution:
“Not diesel” = 100% - 3% = 97%

The total number of cars (250 million) is irrelevant — we’re asked for a percentage.

✔️ Answer: 97%

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Problem 5:

> In a fruit survey, children choose their favourite fruit out of apples, bananas and watermelon. 29% chose apples, 41% chose bananas. What percentage chose watermelon?

✔ Solution:
Assuming every child chose exactly one fruit, and only these three options:

Watermelon = 100% - 29% - 41% = 30%

✔️ Answer: 30%

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Problem 6:

> In a traffic survey, some bikes, buses and cars were recorded. 70% were cars and 17% were buses. What percentage were bikes?

✔ Solution:
Assuming all vehicles are either bikes, buses, or cars:

Bikes = 100% - 70% - 17% = 13%

✔️ Answer: 13%

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Problem 7:

> There is a 22% chance it will rain tomorrow. What is the chance it will stay dry?

✔ Solution:
Dry = 100% - 22% = 78%

(We assume “dry” means “not raining” — which is standard.)

✔️ Answer: 78%

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Problem 8:

> Sally either walks, cycles or drives to work. She walks about 15% of the time and drives about 50% of the time. What percentage of the time does she cycle?

✔ Solution:
Cycles = 100% - 15% - 50% = 35%

✔️ Answer: 35%

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## ✔ Now, back to Problem 3 — the IMPOSSIBLE one?

> LA Galaxy have won 68% of their soccer matches. What percentage have they lost?

In soccer (football), matches can end in:
- Win
- Loss
- Draw

So if they won 68%, the remaining 32% includes both losses AND draws. We cannot determine how many were losses without knowing how many were draws.

Therefore, this problem cannot be answered with the given information — unless we assume there are no draws, which is unrealistic in soccer.

➡️ This is the impossible problem!

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## 🎯 Final Answers:

1. 38%
2. 33%
3. Impossible (because draws are possible in soccer)
4. 97%
5. 30%
6. 13%
7. 78%
8. 35%

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✔ The impossible problem is #3.

You were asked to "spot the impossible problem" — and now you’ve found it!

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📌 Why is it impossible?
Because soccer matches can end in a draw, so “lost” ≠ 100% - “won”. Without knowing the draw percentage, we can’t calculate losses.

Great job spotting it! 😊