Here’s How to Crack It
As (C) has shown, 63 additional free throws only raises the percentage to 69.9%. We know this is wrong
because we want to raise it to 70%. Therefore, since (C) gives a value that is too small, (A) and (B) must
be too small as well. Let’s try (D).
Our best answer here is (D) because it produces a free-throw percentage of 70.1%. Choice (E) will
produce a percentage greater than 70% as well, but remember, this question is asking for the least.
- A high-school basketball player has shot 170 free throws and has made 100 of those free throws. Starting
now, if she makes each free throw she attempts, what is the least number of free throws she must attempt in
order to raise her free-throw percentage to at least 70% ?
Free-throws Total free-throws Total completed Percentage free-throws
A. 19 189 89 47.1
B. 20 190 90 47.4%
C. 63 233 163 69.9%
D. 64 234 164 70.1%
E. 70
Let’s review what we’ve learned about this type of question so far.
When you’ve identified a problem as a PITA problem, do the following:
- Start with the middle answer choice. This can help with POE (Process of Elimination).
- Label your answer choices—they answer the question you underlined in the problem.
- When you find the correct answer, stop! But make sure you’re answering the right question.
- Make sure you account for all the relevant information. PITA is most effective in simplifying
difficult Word Problems, but make sure you’ve got everything you need!
Let’s try another problem.
- The product of two distinct integers is 192. If the sum of those same two integers is 28, what is the value of the
larger of the two integers?
F. 18
G. 16
H. 12
J. 10
K. 8
