Final answer:
Multiplying by 0.918 is equivalent to a decrease of 8.2%, since 100% - 8.2% equals 91.8%, and 91.8% as a decimal is 0.918.
Step-by-step explanation:
When dealing with a decrease of 8.2%, we are essentially looking for a factor that, when multiplied by a number, will give us the result that is 8.2% less than the original number. To find this, we need to subtract the percentage decrease from 100% to see what we are left with. In this case, 100% - 8.2% = 91.8%. This percentage then needs to be converted into a decimal to be used as a multiplication factor. To convert a percentage to a decimal, divide it by 100. This gives us 0.918. When you multiply a number by 0.918, you are effectively reducing the original number by 8.2%, which means that multiplying by 0.918 is equivalent to a decrease of 8.2%.