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ASVAB · Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages

A tank is 3/4 full. After 12 gallons are removed, it is 1/2 full. What is the total capacity of the tank?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

48 gallons

  1. A 48 gallons
  2. B 24 gallons
  3. C 60 gallons
  4. D 36 gallons

Why this is the answer

The 12 gallons removed represents the difference between 3/4 and 1/2 of the tank: 3/4 − 1/2 = 3/4 − 2/4 = 1/4. So 1/4 of the tank = 12 gallons. Total capacity = 12 × 4 = 48 gallons. ASVAB Arithmetic Reasoning tests fraction word problems. Strategy: find what fraction of the whole the known amount represents (here, 1/4 = 12 gallons), then scale up to the whole (multiply by 4). Check: 3/4 of 48 = 36; 1/2 of 48 = 24; 36 − 24 = 12. ✓
Source: ASVAB Arithmetic Reasoning — Fraction Word Problems

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About this topic: Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages

Fractions, decimals and percentages appear in nearly every ASVAB maths section. These questions cover converting between the three forms, finding a percentage of a number, percent change and operations with mixed numbers. This is one of 10 Arithmetic Reasoning questions on fractions, decimals, and percentages, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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