In a town of 1000 inhabitants, 60% are males. Of these males, 120 are literate. If 25% of all inhabitants are literate, then what percentage of the females in the town are literate?

Introduction:
This question combines percentages and basic counting to find literacy rates in a population split by gender. One group s literacy is given in absolute numbers, and an overall literacy percentage is specified. The goal is to determine the literacy percentage for the other group, in this case females.

Given Data / Assumptions:
Total inhabitants in the town = 1000.
60% of inhabitants are males, so 40% are females.
Number of literate males is 120.
Overall literacy rate in the town is 25% of total inhabitants.
We are to find the percentage of females who are literate.

Concept / Approach:
First, compute the total number of literate inhabitants using the overall literacy percentage. Then subtract the number of literate males to obtain the number of literate females. Next, compute the total number of females in the town using the given male percentage. Finally, express the number of literate females as a percentage of the total number of females.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Total inhabitants = 1000. Percentage of males = 60%, so number of males = 60% of 1000 = 0.60 * 1000 = 600. Therefore number of females = 1000 - 600 = 400. We are told that 120 males are literate. Overall, 25% of all inhabitants are literate. Total literate inhabitants = 25% of 1000 = 0.25 * 1000 = 250. Number of literate females = total literates - literate males. Literate females = 250 - 120 = 130. Total females = 400. Female literacy percentage = (literate females / total females) * 100. So female literacy percentage = (130 / 400) * 100. Compute 130 / 400 = 0.325. Multiply by 100 to get percentage: 0.325 * 100 = 32.5%.
Verification / Alternative check:
We can confirm the numbers by recomputing overall literacy. Out of 600 males, 120 are literate, so male literacy rate is 120 / 600 = 20%. Out of 400 females, 130 are literate, so female literacy rate is 130 / 400 = 32.5%. Total literates are 120 + 130 = 250, which out of 1000 inhabitants gives an overall literacy rate of 25%. This matches the problem statement exactly and confirms that the calculations are consistent.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Percentages like 43%, 46.6%, and 53.2% correspond to higher numbers of literate females than 130. For example, 43% of 400 would be 172 literate females, which would raise the total literate count to 292, contradicting the given overall rate of 25%. The option 25% would mean 100 literate females and 120 literate males for a total of 220 literates, again not matching the required 250 literates.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical pitfall is to apply the 25% literacy rate separately to males and females instead of to the whole population, which leads to an incorrect breakdown. Another error is to think that the female literacy percentage must be the same as or close to the male literacy percentage, but the problem clearly allows different literacy levels. Carefully separating the steps and tracking each group helps avoid confusion.

Final Answer:
The percentage of females in the town who are literate is 32.5%.