Question

Relative and Absolute Change

In 2010 there were 1,845 students at ECC. In 2013 there were 2,430 students.
Answer every answer as a positive number. Round to the nearest 10th.

1. What is the absolute change in the student population at ECC over this period?
This is a:
Student Increase
or
Student Decrease

2. What is the relative change in the student population at ECC over this period?
This is a:
Percent increase
or
Percent Decrease​

Answer 1

1. Student increase of 585 students

2. Relative increase of 31.7%

Explanation:

1. The absolute change is the difference between the current value and the original value:

absolute change = (new value) - (original value)

= 2430 -1845 = 585 . . . . . positive = increase

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2. The relative change is the ratio of the absolute change to the original value, expressed as a percent:

relative change = (absolute change)/(original value) × 100%

= 585/1845 × 100% ≈ 37.7% . . . . . positive = increase