Data Interpretation and Percentages Ratio: TEAS Practice Question with Answer & Explanation

Understanding the Concept: Calculating Percentages from a Frequency Table

On the TEAS Math section, you are frequently asked to interpret data sets or frequency tables. To find the percentage of a specific group within a larger sample, you must follow a two-step mathematical process: identifying the total and then calculating the proportion.

Step 1: Find the Total Sample Size (The Whole)

Before you can determine a percentage, you need to know the total number of individuals surveyed. This is done by adding the frequencies of every category together:

• 45 (0 days) + 75 (1-2 days) + 30 (3+ days) = 150 total patients.

Step 2: Use the Percentage Formula

The standard formula for finding a percentage is: ** (Part / Whole) × 100 = Percentage **

In this scenario, the "Part" is the group that exercises 3 or more days per week, which is 30. The "Whole" is our total calculated in step one, which is 150.

• 30 ÷ 150 = 0.2
• 0.2 × 100 = 20%

Analysis of Choices

• A) 15%: This error often occurs if a student divides the "3+ day" count (30) by the "1-2 day" count (75) and then attempts to adjust it, or simply miscalculates the division.
• B) 25%: This answer choice might be selected if a student forgets to include the "0 days" group in the total, dividing 30 by 120 (the sum of only two categories) instead of the full 150.
• C) 20% (Correct): This is the result of dividing the specific category (30) by the total population (150).
• D) 30%: This is a "distractor" choice. It uses the raw number of patients in the 3+ day category (30) and simply adds a percent sign to it without performing the necessary calculation against the total.

Tips for the TEAS Math Exam

The TEAS exam often uses tables where the total isn't explicitly given. Always double-check that you have summed every row of the table to find your denominator. In a medical setting, this skill is critical for understanding patient demographics and "at-risk" percentages in clinical studies.

Memory Trick: "Part over Whole"

Think of a percentage like a slice of pizza. The "Whole" is the entire pizza (all survey responses), and the "Part" is the specific slice you are interested in. You can't know how much of the pizza you've eaten until you know how many slices there were in total!