A number increases by 15 percent and then again by 20 percent. What is the total percentage increase?

The answer is 38.0. Using Net increase % = a + b + ab/100, 15 + 20 + (15 × 20 ÷ 100) = 38%.

Net increase % = a + b + ab/100

Percentage means per hundred and is used to express a number as a fraction of 100. Formula: Percentage = (Value/Total Value) x 100. In competitive exams like SSC CGL, IBPS Bank PO, and CAT, percentage questions appear as: finding percentage of a number, percentage increase/decrease, percentage change, successive percentage change, and percentage in Data Interpretation.

Important percentage-fraction equivalents: 10% = 1/10, 12.5% = 1/8, 16.67% = 1/6, 20% = 1/5, 25% = 1/4, 33.33% = 1/3, 37.5% = 3/8, 50% = 1/2, 62.5% = 5/8, 66.67% = 2/3, 75% = 3/4. Converting percentages to fractions makes calculations faster. For example: 25% of 480 = 480/4 = 120. Memorizing these fractions is essential for quick Quantitative Aptitude calculations.

Percentage Increase = (Increase/Original Value) x 100. Percentage Decrease = (Decrease/Original Value) x 100. If price increases by x% then decreases by x%, net effect is a decrease of x squared/100 percent. For Successive Percentage Changes: if first change is a% and second is b%, overall change = a + b + (ab/100) percent. This formula is crucial for profit/loss and interest problems in competitive exams.

Population problems use percentage increase formula. If population is P and annual growth rate is r%, then after n years: Population = P x (1 + r/100)^n. Example: Town population 50,000 grows at 10% per year. After 2 years = 50000 x 1.1 x 1.1 = 60,500. If growth rate decreases, use (1-r/100). These problems appear in SSC CGL, IBPS, and banking exams.