Question

Sales at Terri's Tackle went up 1.4% in June, down 4.87% in July, up 3% in August, and down 1.33% in September. Did Terry's sales rise or fall over those four months? By how much?

Answer 1

To find how much it went up/down by, you do an equation. In June, it went up by 1.4%. That's a positive number. Down by 4.87 in July (negative), up 3% in August (positive), and down 1.33% in September (negative).
So the equation would be, 1.4-4.87+3-1.33
That gives you the answer of -1.8.

In conclusion, it fell over the four months, by -1.8%.