Question

In 1990, the typical movie theater seat was 20 inches wide. By 2010, the typical width of a movie theater seat was 23 inches wide. Calculate the absolute and relative change in movie theater seat widths from 1990 to 2010.

Answer 1

The absolute change is of 3 inches.

The relative change is of 15%.

Explanation:

Absolute:

The absolute change is the subtraction of the typical width of a movie theater seat in 2010 by the width in 1990.

So it is 23 - 20 = 3 inches.

Relative:

This is the absolute change divided by the initial value.

So 3/20 = 0.15.

Multiplying by 100, to write as a percentage

0.15*100 = 15%.