BryanBTGMAT wrote:In Country C, the unemployment rate among construction workers dropped from 16% on 9/1/92 to 9% on 9/1/96. If the number of construction workers was 20% greater on 9/1/96 than on 9/1/92, what was the approximate percent change in the number of unemployed construction workers over this period?
A) 50% decrease
B) 30% decrease
C) 15% decrease
D) 30% increase
E) 55% increase
Anyone have a simple method to solve above?
Thanks
9/1/92:
Let the total number of workers = 1000.
Since 16% are unemployed, the number of unemployed workers = .16(1000) = 160.
9/1/96:
The total number of workers increases by 20%:
1000 + .2(1000) = 1200.
Since the unemployment rate is 9%, the number of unemployed workers = .09(1200) = 108.
Decrease in the number of unemployed workers = 160-108 = 52.
Since 52/160 is a bit less than 1/3, the percent decrease is a bit less than 33.33%.
The correct answer is
B.
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