Question

Barry found a computer at Staples for $989. A week later, the computer went on sale for $849. What

the percent of change?

Answer 1

Barry found a computer at Staples for $989. A week later, the computer went on sale for $849. The percentage change is 14.156 % decrease

Solution:

Given that Barry found a computer at Staples for $989

A week later, the computer went on sale for $849

To find: percent of change

Percent change is the extent to which a variable gains or loses value. The figures are arrived at by comparing the initial (or before) and final (or after) quantities according to a specific formula.

THE PERCENT CHANGE IS GIVEN AS:

`\text{ percent change } =\frac{\text { final value - initial value }}{\text { initial value }} * 100`

If the result is positive, it is percentage increase

If the result is negative, it is percentage decrease

Here initial value = 989 and final value = 849

Substituting the values in above formula,

`\begin{aligned}&\text { percent change }=(849-989)/(989) * 100\\\\&\text { percent change }=-0.14155 * 100=-14.156 \%\end{aligned}`

Here negative sign denotes percentage decrease

Thus percentage change is 14.156 % decrease