Thread: confusion in percents?

In a college, 60% of all sophomores have liberal studies as their major subject, 24% of all sophomores have social history as their major and the rest have other subjects or have not yet chosen a major. If 55% of all sophomores have chosen psychology as a course, then what is the minimum percent of all sophomores who have chosen psychology as a course and who also have liberal studies as their major subject?

Originally Posted by bluffmaster.roy.007

In a college, 60% of all sophomores have liberal studies as their major subject, 24% of all sophomores have social history as their major and the rest have other subjects or have not yet chosen a major. If 55% of all sophomores have chosen psychology as a course, then what is the minimum percent of all sophomores who have chosen psychology as a course and who also have liberal studies as their major subject?

Hi bluffmaster.roy.007,

Let's say that you have 100 sophomores. 60 of them have chosen a liberal studies major. 24 of them have chosen a social history major and that leaves 16 undecided.

Now if 55 of all sophomores have chosen psychology as a course and who also have liberal studies as their major, the maximum number would, of course, be 55. The minimum number would be 55 minus 16 minus 24 or 15.

Therefore, the minimum percent of all sophomores who have chosen psychology as a course and also have liberal studies as their major subject is 15%.