Shortcut Trick
The overall literacy percentage is the weighted average of the male and female literacy percentages.
If the overall percentage (47%) is exactly equal to the male literacy percentage (47%), the female percentage must also be equal to the overall percentage.
No calculations are required for this conceptual question.
∴ The correct answer is 47%.
Alternate Method
Given:
Total population = 357,000
Number of males = 194,000
Overall literate percentage = 47%
Male literate percentage = 47%
Formula Used:
Percentage = (Part value ÷ Total value) × 100
Total Population: 357,000
Literacy: 47%
Males: 194,000
Literacy: 47%
Females: 163,000
Literacy: ?%
Avg Literacy = 47% → Female Literacy = 47%
Calculations:
⇒ Number of females = Total population − Number of males
⇒ Number of females = 357,000 − 194,000 = 163,000
⇒ Total literate population = 47% of 357,000
⇒ Male literate population = 47% of 194,000
⇒ Female literate population = Total literate population − Male literate population
⇒ Female literate population = (47% of 357,000) − (47% of 194,000)
⇒ Female literate population = 47% of (357,000 − 194,000)
⇒ Female literate population = 47% of 163,000
⇒ Percentage of literate females = (Female literate population ÷ Total females) × 100
⇒ Percentage of literate females = [(47% of 163,000) ÷ 163,000] × 100
⇒ Percentage of literate females = 47%
∴ The correct answer is 47%.
Additional Information
Weighted Average Concept
When two groups are combined, the overall average is the weighted average of the two individual groups: Aw = (n1A1 + n2A2) ÷ (n1 + n2).
Rule of Constant Average
If the average of one sub-group is exactly equal to the average of the total group, then the average of the other sub-group must also be equal to the total average, regardless of the size or population quantities of each group.
Mixture and Alligation
The ratio of the quantities of two groups can be verified using the alligation method: Ratio = (Higher % − Average %) ÷ (Average % − Lower %). If the average perfectly matches one component, the gap is 0, mandating that the other component must also match the average to maintain balance.