Final answer:
To decrease a number by a percentage, convert the percentage to a decimal, subtract it from 1 to find the multiplier, and then multiply the original number by this multiplier to find the decreased value.
Step-by-step explanation:
To decrease a number by a percentage using a multiplier, follow these steps:
- Identify the percentage decrease needed. This is the % change you wish to apply to the number.
- Convert the percentage to its decimal form by dividing by 100. For example, a 20% decrease would be converted to 0.20.
- To determine the multiplier, subtract the decimal form of the percentage from 1. For example, 1 - 0.20 = 0.80.
- Multiply the original number by the multiplier to get the reduced amount. For instance, if decreasing 100 by 20%, it would be 100 * 0.80 = 80.
This process is useful when forecasting budgets, calculating discounts, or adjusting prices by a certain percentage.