5 out of 2250 parts of earth is sulphur. What is the percentage of sulphur in earth?
Aptitude
Percentage
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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A$\frac{11}{50}$
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B$\frac{2}{9}$
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C$\frac{1}{45}$
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D$\frac{2}{45}$
Answer
Correct Answer: $\frac{2}{9}$
Explanation
### Concept & Formula
This problem requires converting a standard ratio or fraction into a percentage. The concept is identical to standard percentage formulas: isolate the specific part, divide it by the total parts, and multiply the outcome by $100$.
$$ \text{Percentage} = \left( \frac{\text{Given Parts}}{\text{Total Parts}} \right) \times 100 $$
### Step-by-Step Solution
**Given:**
* Sulphur parts = $5$
* Total parts of earth = $2250$
**Calculation / Deduction:**
* Construct the fraction representing the ratio of sulphur to the total:
$$ \frac{5}{2250} $$
* Simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and the denominator by $5$:
$$ \frac{1}{450} $$
* To convert this fraction into a percentage, multiply by $100$:
$$ \frac{1}{450} \times 100 $$
* Simplify the expression by cancelling a zero from the numerator and denominator:
$$ \frac{10}{45} $$
* Further simplify by dividing both numbers by their greatest common divisor, which is $5$:
$$ \frac{2}{9} $$
* The result is $\frac{2}{9}\%$. The options represent the numerical value of the percentage.
### Exam Strategy & Shortcut
Write down the expression directly as $\frac{5}{2250} \times 100$. Cancel the zeroes immediately to get $\frac{50}{225}$. Knowing your multiples of $25$ is extremely helpful here. $50$ is $2 \times 25$, and $225$ is $9 \times 25$. Cancelling the $25$ from the top and bottom instantly leaves you with $\frac{2}{9}$.
### Common Pitfall
A very common mistake is confusing the fractional part with the percentage itself. Students might simplify $\frac{5}{2250}$ to $\frac{1}{450}$ and then incorrectly look for that answer, forgetting the final crucial step of multiplying by $100$ to convert it to a percentage format.
### Final Answer
Therefore, the correct answer is **$\frac{2}{9}$**.