In July, Cole gave his wife, Cindy, $8000 for household expenditure. Cindy spent 50% of the sum on rental, 10% on food and saved the rest. In August, Cole reduced the sum he gave to Cindy. Cindy spent the same amount on rental and reduced the amount she spent on food by 10%. She saved the remaining 20% of the sum given to her in August. By what percentage was the sum given to Cindy reduced by?

	Rental	Food	Savings	Total
Before	50%	10%	40%	$8000
Change		- 1%	- ?	- ?
After	50%	9%
Comparing the amounts spent in August	80 u		20 u	100 u

Amount that Cole saved in percent
= 100% - 50% - 10%
= 40%

Amount that Cole reduced on food in percent
= 10% x 10%
= ¹⁰₁₀₀ x 10
= 1%

Total amount that Cole spent on rental and food in percent
= 50% + 9%
= 59%

100% → 8000

1% → 8000 ÷ 100 = 80

59% → 59 x  80 = 4720

The total amount that Cole spent on rental and food is repeated. 

80 u = 59% 

80 u = 4720

1 u = 4720 ÷ 80 = 59

Amount that Cole gave to Cindy in August
= 100 u
= 100 x 59
= $5900

Amount that Cindy received less from Cole from July to August
= 8000 - 5900
= $2100

Percentage that the sum given to Cindy was reduced by from July to August
= ²¹⁰⁰₈₀₀₀ x 100%
= 26.25%

Answer(s): 26.25%