CONSUMER ARITHMETIC
A REVISION GUIDE BY
ADMIRE CHATSAKARIRA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
OTHER PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR FREE ................................................................................ 4
ABOUT THE AUTHOR .............................................................................................................................. 5
SIMPLE INTEREST .................................................................................................................................... 6
PERCENTAGES .......................................................................................................................................... 8
RATIO AND MIXTURE ........................................................................................................................... 11
PROPORTION / FRACTIONS .................................................................................................................. 14
MENSURATION AND ARITHMETIC .................................................................................................... 16
PRACTICE QUESTIONS .......................................................................................................................... 18
SOLUTION TO PRACTICE QUESTIONS ............................................................................................... 20
OTHER PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR FREE
A guide to the topic of Vectors (Zimsec and
Cambridge syllabi). The notes and demonstrations
are presented in seven (7) major lessons.
The ebook is exam oriented and demonstrates on
past exam questions.
The ebook contains past questions and their
solutions to help candidates in exam preparation
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Admire Chatsakarira is a mathematics teacher with over 8 years’
experience. He also teaches O level mathematics online through video
lessons, daily exercises and weekly tests.
The online lessons are exam oriented and cover the syllabus in about six
(6) months. They are targeted on both June and November candidates who
want to prepare their examinations in relatively short time.
These lessons have also proved helpful to those studying from abroad and
others who can’t afford time to attend lessons during the day.
They can be also be used as supplementary or extra lessons for school
going candidates
SIMPLE INTEREST
Simple interest is one of the common principles in Consumer arithmetic
and usually tested in the first paper. However, it can also be tested in the
second paper with significant marks. There is need to keep attention to
simple principles in mathematics
Formulae for simple interest
I= , where I – interest, P – principle [amount invested], R – nominal
rate, T – time in years and 100 makes a nominal rate R a percentage.
Let’s look at this example
Calculate the simple interest on $250 invested for 8 years at 6% p.a.
Solution:
Tip – first define your elements
I =? P = $ 250, R = 6 and T= 8
Therefore I= [ NB: Rate is not expressed as 0,06, it must
be written as nominal]
I = $120
Finding P, R or T
To find value of P, R or T you must first make it the subject of the
formulae.
Example 2:
A person invests $840 for 3 years and receives $63 simple interest. At
what rate per cent per annum was the money invested?
Solution:
Let’s first define the elements
I = $63, P = $840, R =? T = 3. [ We are required to find R]
Let’s make R the subject first
R=
R= , therefore the rate = 2,5% p.a.
PERCENTAGES
Most candidates are confused by percentages in calculating costs, profits ,
discounts or losses. In this lesson we will cover the basics and shed more
light on the easiest means of calculating all those elements
Let’s first highlight on the basic principles
Whenever we calculate a
i) Discount/Loss – subtract the value of the discount/loss from the
numerator
ii) Profits or price increases – add to the numerator
iii) Previous prices given current prices – add or subtract the
denominator
Previous prices/costs are sometimes called the ‘original prices’
The original price is always represented by 100%
Example 1:
A storekeeper decided to give a 10% discount on all purchases during the
Christmas season. How much would a customer pay for an item that
originally cost $240?
Solution:
First consider that this is a discount. Therefore we need to sub tract from the
numerator. The value of an item is always
Subtracting the discount = [then we multiply with the
original price]
× $240 = $216
Finding the original price
1. By selling an article for $21,75 a woman makes a profit of 16%
(a) Calculate how much the article cost
(b)For how much should she have sold it to make a profit of 28%?
Solution
NB: $21,75 includes the actual cost of the article plus the 16% profit.
Since we are calculating the ‘original amount’, it affects the denominator.
Let’s add 16 to the denominator to make it 116
Therefore × $21, 75 = $18, 75
2. By selling an article for $35, 00, a dealer lost 30%. For how much
should she have sold it to gain 30%
Solution
NB: we want to first calculate the original amount, therefore we subtract from
the denominator since it’s a loss
Therefore Original price = × $35, 00 = $50, 00
To make a gain of 30% [add to the numerator since we want to calculate
profitable pricing]
Therefore × $50, 00 [use original price here]
= $65, 00
3. A shop sells a refrigerator at $540. In the previous year the same type
of refrigerator cost 8% less
Calculate the cost price of the same type of refrigerator in the previous
year
[Nov2015/2/2c)]
Solution
NB: we want to calculate a less price and $540 is the original price.
Therefore we treat this as a loss or a discount. The numerator is
affected
= , therefore × $540 = $496,80
RATIO AND MIXTURE
Most candidates underrate these concepts yet the majority stumble. In this
lesson we will focus on the ratio and how it is applied together with mixtures
in paper 2
1. Mary, Peter and John share a total of $500 in the ratio 3:2:5. Mary uses
part of her share to buy a pair of shoes costing $30.
(i) Calculate Mary’s share
(ii) Calculate the percentage of Mary’s share that is left
Solution
Note: to find value of each ratio we first add the given ratios to find the
denominator.
In this case the total is 3 + 2 + 5 = 10
Therefore we are required to calculate the share of Mary.
(i) × $500 = $150 Mary’s Share
(ii) Mary’s share left [we subtract $30 used]
Therefore amount left was $150 – 30 = $120
As a percentage of the total its × 100 = 80%
2. In a certain year, a paint manufacturer mixed 27 litres of white paint
with 9 liters of red paint produce 36 litres of pink paint. If one litre of
the white paint cost $36 800 and the average cost of the pink paint was
$33575 per liter, calculate the cost of one litre of the red paint then. [3]
[N08/2/3]
Solution
Note: this a mixture combined with ratio concept.
The ratio of the mixture was 27:9
To get the average cost, we calculate the total cost of the paints and
then divide by the total output [liters of pink paint]
Therefore
White Paint = 27 litres × $36 800 = 993 600
Red Paint = 9 litres × ? [unknown, let it be x] = 9x
Pink = 36 litres × $33 575 = 1 208 700
993 600 + 9x = 1 208 700
9x = 1 208 700 – 993 600
9x = 215100
x = $23 900 the red paint costs $23 900 per litre
3. A compound is made up of potassium nitrate, Sulphur and charcoal,
mixed in the ratio 33: 5: 7 respectively.
(i) Calculate the percentage of Sulphur in the compound
(ii) Find the mass of charcoal needed to make 900kg of the
compound.
(iii) Given that 10kg of Sulphur and 14kg of charcoal are mixed, find
the mass of potassium nitrate needed to make up the compound
[5]
[N2011/2/4a)]
Solution
Note: first calculate the total for ratios denominator
33 + 5 + 7 = 45
(i) Percentage of Sulphur = × 100 = 11,1%
(ii) Charcoal ratio is × 900kg = 140kg
(iii) This means 10kg of Sulphur is or you can divide the mass by the
ratio value, i.e., 10kg ÷ 5 = 2 [ this means every ratio is being
multiplied by 2]
Sulphur = 5 × 2kg = 10 kg
Charcoal = 7 × 2kg = 14 kg
Potassium = 33 × 2kg = 66 kg
PROPORTION / FRACTIONS
The second paper tests fractions and proportion in a different way.
Introduction of algebra in given situations seems to be an easiest way to solve
this type of questions. However some prefer the use of inverse.
Let’s look at this example
1. Albert can weed a family garden in 4 hours. His sister, Biddy, takes 6
hours to complete the same job.
If they decide to work together assuming they maintain their working
rates calculate
(i) The fraction of the garden they can weed in 1 hour
(ii) The total time they can take to weed the whole garden. [3]
[N13/2/2c)]
Solution
Note: create fractions using hours only
(i) Albert fraction in 1 hour = =
Biddy fraction in 1 hour = =
Since they are working together, we add the fractions
+ =
(ii) Tip: form an equation to calculate total time to weed the garden or
use the inverse
Let the whole garden be x
of the garden = 1 hour
x=1
= = 2,4 hours [to weed the whole garden]
Another method is to use the inverse of the first answer. That is
simplifying = 2,4 hours
2. A car tank holds 22 liters of fuel when it is full
Calculate the amount of fuel when it is full [N14R/2/1b)]
Solution
To calculate the full tank, you can use the inverse, that is
Therefore full tank is 22 ×
= ×
= 60 liters
Second method [using equation]
Let full tank be x
22 =
=
× =x
=x
MENSURATION AND ARITHMETIC
Mensuration of plane shapes maybe tested together with consumer
arithmetic. It can be the cost of the paint, building materials or floor
Let’s consider the following
1. An office is 4,35m long and 3,62m wide
Its floor is to be carpeted at a cost of $15.99 per square meter. Calculate
(i) The area of the floor
(ii) The cost of carpeting the floor
Solution
(i) Area is width × length
4,35m × 3,62m = 15,75m2
(ii) Cost is $15,99 per m2 multiplied by number of square metres
Therefore $15,99 × 15,75m2 = $252 to 3s.f.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Calculate the principal that earns $300 simple interest at 5% per annum
for 6 years [2] [N11/2/11b)]
2. A gardener has a rectangular lawn 20m long and 8m wide. He wants to
put fertilizer on his lawn. He was advised to put 50g/m2.
(i) Calculate the amount of fertilizer that he should buy
(ii) He manages to get only 5kg of the fertioliser and spread it on the
lawn.
Find the average mass of fertilizer on each m2. [4] [N11/2/11b)]
3. At a certain secondary school, 400 pupils sat for a form 1 entrance test.
If 150 of them passed the test, find percentage that failed. [2]
[N12/2/1b)]
4. The cash price of an electric stove is $3 400 000. The stove may be
bought on hire purchase by paying a deposit of 35% of the cash price
and 12 equal instalment of $300 000 each. Calculate
(i) The deposit
(ii) The total amount to be paid if the stove is bought by hire
purchase
(iii) The difference between the cash price and the hire purchase
price. [5] [J07/2/7]
5. It is given that 300 cattle are to be shared in the ratio 12:10:8.
(i) Express the ratio in its simplest form
(ii) Calculate the difference between the largest and the smallest
shares. [5] [J15/2/3]
6. The drum was bought for $25 500 and this represents a 70% increase in
price of such a drum in the previous year.
Calculate the price of such a drum in the previous year [2]
[J08/2/4]
7. Mrs shoko decides to erect a durawall around her rectangular stand
measuring 20m by 11m. Three metres are to be left for a gate.
(a) Find the perimeter of the durawall. [3]
She has two options A or B, to consider fo erecting the durawall.
Option A
She could engage a contractor who charges $12 per meter on a fix-
and-supply basis.
(b) Calculate the total cost of erecting the durawall using option A. [2]
Option B
She could buy the following materials as shown in the table below
and engage a builder who charges $100 for the job.
Item Quantity Cost per unit
Bricks 5000 $80,00 for 1000
Cement 10 × 50kg bag $10 per bag
Brick force 5 bundles $5 per bundle
Pit sand 2 loads $30 per load
(c) Calculate the total cost of erecting the durawall using option B.[3]
(d) Mrs Shoko decides to use cheaper option. Calculate the amount she
saves by uising that opytion [2] [N14/2/5]
SOLUTION TO PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. First define your elements I = $300, P = ?, R = 5, T = 6.
Make P the subject
P=
P= = $1 000
2. (i) Total area = 20m × 8m = 160m2
Required = 50g × 160 = 8000g = 8kg
(ii.) 5kg = 5 000g = = 31.25g/m2
3. Failed = 400 – 150 = 250
× 100 = 62,5%
4. (i) × 3 400 000 = $1 190 000
(ii.) $ 1 190 000 + ($300 000 × 12) = $4 790 000
(iii.) $4 790 000 - $3 400 000 = $1 390 000
5. (i) 12:10:8 [divide by 2] = 6:5:2
(ii.) × 300 = 120 cattle
× 300 = 100 cattle
× 300 = 80 cattle
Difference 120 – 80 = 40 cattle
6. Calculating original cost – affect the denominator
× $25 500 = $15 000
7. (a) Note: Consider the gate.
Perimeter of the stand = (20 +11) × 2 = 62
Less gate distance = 62 -3 = 59 meters
(b.) Perimeter of durawall × cost per meter
59 × 12 = $ 708
(c) Cost of material = ($80 × 5) + ($10 × 10) + ($5 × 5) + ($30 × 2)
= $585
Labour = $100
Total = $685
(d) Difference $708 - $685 = $23
These lesson notes, past questions and solutions are part of our
online lessons/video tuition offered by Admire Chatsakarira.
For more ebooks on other topics, if you want to join our video
tuition or join our whatsapp broadcast list for ebooks and video
lessons, get in touch with the author on links below
Facebook page
Twitter
Youtube channel
Blog
WhatsApp: +263 733 796 118
