Understanding the Student Data Question

The question asks us to compare two specific values derived from the provided table showing student appearance and passing data for schools Q, R, S, and T across five years (2014 to 2018).

We need to calculate:

1. The total number of students who passed from school Q in the years 2014 and 2018.
2. The total number of students who appeared from school R and school S in the year 2017.

Finally, we need to find out what percentage the first total (Q passed in 2014 and 2018) is less than the second total (R and S appeared in 2017).

Extracting Data from the Student Table

Let's pull the required numbers from the table:

Calculating the Required Totals

Now, let's calculate the sums based on the data extracted:

Total students passed from school Q in 2014 and 2018:

Total Q Passed $= \text{Q Passed in 2014} + \text{Q Passed in 2018}$

Total Q Passed $= 240 + 320 = 560$

Total students appeared from school R and school S in 2017:

Total R&S Appeared $= \text{R Appeared in 2017} + \text{S Appeared in 2017}$

Total R&S Appeared $= 420 + 380 = 800$

Calculating the Percentage Less

We need to find out what percentage the Total Q Passed (560) is less than the Total R&S Appeared (800).

First, find the difference between the two totals:

Difference $= \text{Total R&S Appeared} - \text{Total Q Passed}$

Difference $= 800 - 560 = 240$

Now, express this difference as a percentage of the Total R&S Appeared (800), as the question asks "what percent less than the total number of students appeared from school R and S in 2017".

Percentage Less $= \left( \frac{\text{Difference}}{\text{Total R&S Appeared}} \right) \times 100\%$

Percentage Less $= \left( \frac{240}{800} \right) \times 100\%$

Percentage Less $= \left( \frac{24}{80} \right) \times 100\%$

Percentage Less $= \left( \frac{3}{10} \right) \times 100\%$

Percentage Less $= 0.3 \times 100\%$

Percentage Less $= 30\%$

So, the total number of students passed from school Q in 2014 and 2018 is 30% less than the total number of students appeared from school R and S in 2017.

Revision Table: Key Calculations

Additional Information: Percentage Calculations

Understanding percentage calculations is crucial for data interpretation questions. Here are a few key concepts:

• Percentage Increase/Decrease: When comparing a new value to an original value, the percentage change is calculated as $\left( \frac{\text{New Value} - \text{Original Value}}{\text{Original Value}} \right) \times 100\%$. A positive result is an increase, and a negative result is a decrease.
• Percentage More/Less Than: When asked "A is what percent less than B?", the formula is $\left( \frac{\text{B} - \text{A}}{\text{B}} \right) \times 100\%$. When asked "A is what percent more than B?", the formula is $\left( \frac{\text{A} - \text{B}}{\text{B}} \right) \times 100\%$. The denominator is always the value you are comparing against (the value after "than").
• Percentage Of: When asked "A is what percent of B?", the formula is $\left( \frac{\text{A}}{\text{B}} \right) \times 100\%$.

In this problem, we used the "percentage less than" concept, comparing the first total (Q Passed) to the second total (R&S Appeared), hence dividing the difference by the second total.