Question

Graham uses a 10 by 10 grid to model a decreasing pattern. He cuts off a section representing a percent of the current area so that the remaining area represents the next term in the pattern, rounded to nearest whole centimeter. The area after each cut is shown on the graph.

Answer 1

it will be 80% of the previous cut

Answer 2

After each cut, the remaining area is 80% of the previous area.

Explanation:

The original area is 100 cm^2. After the first cut the remaining area is 80 cm^2, that is, 80 cm^2/(100 cm^2)*100 = 80% of the previous. The 80% of 80 cm^2 is 0.8*80 = 64 cm^2, which is the remaining area after the second cut. The 80% of 64 cm^2 is 0.8*64 = 51.2 cm^2, which is the remaining area after the third cut. And so on.