Question

Joe creates a new email account. In October he receives 120 emails and in November he receives 177 emails. Joe says the percent change from October to November is calculated by taking the ratio of the difference between the number of emails received in November and October to the number of emails received in November. Therefore, he says, the percent change, rounded to the nearest whole percent is 32%. Is he correct?

Answer 1

No, Joe is not correct. The correct way to calculate the percent change is to take the ratio of the difference between the number of emails received in November and October to the number of emails received in October, and then multiply that ratio by 100%. Using that method, the percent change would be (177-120)/120 * 100% = 47.5%, which rounded to the nearest whole percent is 48%.