Question

36. An article reports that "sales have grown by 21.09% this year, to $178 million." What were sales before the growth? Give your answer as a whole number in million.

Answer 1

Based on the question, the rate of increase is 21.09% or in decimal form 0.2109 and the final number with the increase is 178 million.

To solve the original sales before the growth, we can use the formula:

`\text{Percentage = Base x Rate}`

where base = original value, rate = increased rate, and percentage is the amount added.

The percentage here is 178 million minus the value of the original value and the rate is 0.2109.

Let's apply these information to the formula.

`\begin{gathered} 178,000,000-b=0.2109b \\ \text{Add }b\text{ on both sides.} \\ 178,000,000-b+b=0.2109b+b \\ 178,000,000=1.2109b \\ \text{Divide 1.2109 on both sides.} \\ (178,000,000)/(1.2109)=(1.2109b)/(1.2109) \\ 146,998,100.6=b \\ 146,998,101\approx b \end{gathered}`

Therefore, the sales before the growth was $146, 998, 101, or 147 million when rounded off.