The chart above displays Forbes data for the distribution of billionai

Official Explanation

Statement 1: 274. This problem asks you to find the difference in the number of billionaires between the US and the total of Russia, the UK, and Germany combined. Because the table is given in percents, first find the percentage of billionaires in these two groups:

United States = 44% of the worldwide billionaires
Russia + United Kingdom + Germany = (6% + 3% + 6%) = 15% of the worldwide billionaires

The most efficient way to solve is to find the percentage difference first, then calculate the actual number of billionaires. The percentage difference is:
44% - 15% = 29%

Then find 29% of the total 946 billionaires:
0.29(946) = 274.34 ≈ 274

If you don’t spot that shortcut, then use the total of 946 billionaires worldwide to convert the individual values from percents to actual numbers:

Number of US Billionaires = (44%)(946) = (0.44)(946) = 416.24 ≈ 416
Number of Russia, UK, and Germany Billionaires = (15%)(946) = (0.15)(946) = 141.9 ≈ 142

Then subtract to find the difference between these two groups: 416 – 142 = 274.

Statement 2: 12. There are 21 countries in the “Other” category and each has the same number of billionaires. To calculate the approximate number of billionaires in each country, set up the following calculation:

\(\frac{(% "other")(total # billionaires)}{# of "other" countries}\)

(26%)(946)/21

You can do this straight out on the calculator: (0.26)(946)/21 = 11.7 ≈ 12.

Alternatively, the answer choices are pretty spread out, so you can estimate. If “Other” represents 26% of the total, then each of the 21 individual countries would be 26%/21 or between 1 and 2% of the total.

1% of 946 = 9.46 or about 9.5

2% of 946 = twice 1% = (9.5)(2) = 19

The answer must be between 9.5 and 19; only 12 works.