In April, Zeph gave his wife, Hazel, $8000 for household expenditure. Hazel spent 70% of the sum on rental, 10% on food and saved the rest. In May, Zeph reduced the sum he gave to Hazel. Hazel 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 May. By what percentage was the sum given to Hazel reduced by?

	Rental	Food	Savings	Total
Before	70%	10%	20%	$8000
Change		- 1%	- ?	- ?
After	70%	9%
Comparing the amounts spent in May	80 u		20 u	100 u

Amount that Zeph saved in percent
= 100% - 70% - 10%
= 20%

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

Total amount that Zeph spent on rental and food in percent
= 70% + 9%
= 79%

100% → 8000

1% → 8000 ÷ 100 = 80

79% → 79 x  80 = 6320

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

80 u = 79% 

80 u = 6320

1 u = 6320 ÷ 80 = 79

Amount that Zeph gave to Hazel in May
= 100 u
= 100 x 79
= $7900

Amount that Hazel received less from Zeph from April to May
= 8000 - 7900
= $100

Percentage that the sum given to Hazel was reduced by from April to May
= ¹⁰⁰₈₀₀₀ x 100%
= 1.25%

Answer(s): 1.25%