Answer:
-18.75%
Explanation:
The formula you can use to find the percentage of change is:
![\%C = (X_f-X_i)/(X_i) * 100\%](https://img.qammunity.org/2020/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/lqm1qo8em1yh9hu0vxqza0msvqkjt522z3.png)
Where
is the final amount and
is the initial amount and %C is the percentage of change.
In this problem we know that the initial length of the table is:
![L = 8\ feet](https://img.qammunity.org/2020/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/g1itjb8t8v0cpwleyetbguhqfm47iaxlye.png)
Then
![X_i = 8](https://img.qammunity.org/2020/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/9w4wxy4gr3tpbd1fla6x23pwxaszmi3qym.png)
The final length is:
![L = 6.5\ feet](https://img.qammunity.org/2020/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/v9zmp9at58nhnfe3en6mqihqhkuxzap5jn.png)
Then
![X_f = 6.5](https://img.qammunity.org/2020/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/xyojmvdcy3as25faes3q2ynrr5t2joc2x2.png)
Note that there was a reduction in length, therefore the change will be negative.
![\%C = (6.5-8)/(8) * 100\%](https://img.qammunity.org/2020/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/23xag1qs0o625ryrr342k7npot9p0pnqdq.png)
![\%C = -18.75\%](https://img.qammunity.org/2020/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/lqh6hsw19l4eloaciopjuqk6fr1lewiohf.png)
Finally the percent of change in length is -18.75%