A fruit seller had some Oranges. He sells 80% of the Oranges. He still has 960 Oranges. Originally, how many Oranges did he have?

Appeared in: DSSSB October 2024

Explanation

The problem states that 80% of the oranges are sold, which means 100% - 80% = 20% of the oranges remain.
This remaining 20% is equal to the 960 oranges the seller still has.
To find the original total (100%), we can set up the equation: 0.20 × Total = 960.
Solving for the total gives: Total = 960 / 0.20 = 4800.

Option A: If the total was 4320, the remaining 20% would be 864 (0.20 * 4320), not 960.
Option C: If the total was 7200, the remaining 20% would be 1440 (0.20 * 7200), not 960.
Option D: If the total was 1200, the remaining 20% would be 240 (0.20 * 1200), not 960.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Solving percentage-based word problems as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests basic numeracy and percentage calculation, a fundamental skill required for various non-nursing sections of competitive exams.
While not a clinical question, strong mathematical skills are essential for tasks like medication dosage calculations, interpreting lab results as percentages, and understanding statistical data in research articles.
What if the question said he sold 960 oranges, which was 80% of his stock? Then the remaining 20% would be (960 / 80) * 20 = 240 oranges, and the original total would be 960 + 240 = 1200.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the knowns and unknowns. Known: 960 oranges remain, which is the result of selling 80%. Unknown: The original total number of oranges.
Determine the percentage that corresponds to the known quantity. If 80% were sold, then 100% - 80% = 20% remain.
Set up a simple algebraic equation. Let 'X' be the original total. The equation is: 20% of X = 960, or 0.20 * X = 960.
Solve the equation for X by isolating the variable: X = 960 / 0.20.
Perform the final calculation to find the answer: X = 4800.
Review the options to see which one matches your calculated result.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full DSSSB October 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.