Question

The​ five-year survival rate for Caucasians for all forms of cancer increased from 38​% in the 1960s to 61​% now. Express this change in two​ ways: a. As an absolute difference in terms of percentage points. b. As a relative difference in terms of percent.

Answer 1

a) Absolute increase of 23%.

b) Relative increase of 60.53%.

Explanation:

It increased from 38% to 61%.

a. As an absolute difference in terms of percentage points.

The absolute difference is just the subtraction of both percentages.

So 61-38 = 23%.

b. As a relative difference in terms of percent.

The relative is the absolute divided by the initial percent. So 0.23/0.38 = 0.6053 = 60.53%.