Question

Mr. and Ms. Quark tried different diets for

a month. On the Try-No-Meal Diet, Ms.
Quark's weight dropped from 131 to 125
pounds. On the Buy-No-Meal Diet, Mr.
Quark's weight dropped from 185 to 177
pounds. Find the percent of decrease for
each person. What is the greater of the two
percents?

Answer 1

Ms. Quark's weight loss percentage is approximately 4.58% and Mr. Quark's is approximately 4.32%, with Ms. Quark's percentage being greater.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the percent of weight decrease for Ms. Quark and Mr. Quark, we first calculate the absolute weight loss for each and then divide by the original weight to get the decimal value of weight loss. Afterward, we convert this to a percentage by multiplying by 100. Finally, we compare the two percentages to find which one is greater.

Ms. Quark's Percentage of Decrease

Original Weight = 131 pounds
New Weight = 125 pounds
Weight Loss = Original Weight - New Weight = 131 - 125 = 6 pounds
Percent Decrease = (Weight Loss / Original Weight) × 100 = (6 / 131) × 100 ≈ 4.58%

Mr. Quark's Percentage of Decrease

Original Weight = 185 pounds
New Weight = 177 pounds
Weight Loss = Original Weight - New Weight = 185 - 177 = 8 pounds
Percent Decrease = (Weight Loss / Original Weight) × 100 = (8 / 185) × 100 ≈ 4.32%

Ms. Quark's percent decrease of 4.58% is greater than Mr. Quark's percent decrease of 4.32%.