Answer: 17%
Explanation:
To find the percentage difference, you can use the following formula:
percentage difference = |(actual value - expected value)/expected value| * 100
Plugging in the values given in the problem, we get:
percentage difference = |(15,000 - 18,000)/18,000| * 100 = |-3,000/18,000| * 100 = 16.7%
Rounded to the nearest percent, the percentage difference is 17%.