Percent as Ratio Math Example 4

Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.

Example 4

medium
A population grew from 8,0008{,}000 to 9,4009{,}400. What is the percent increase?

Solution

  1. 1
    Change in population: 9,400−8,000=1,4009{,}400 - 8{,}000 = 1{,}400.
  2. 2
    Percent increase =changeoriginal×100=1,4008,000×100=17.5%= \dfrac{\text{change}}{\text{original}} \times 100 = \dfrac{1{,}400}{8{,}000} \times 100 = 17.5\%.

Answer

The population increased by 17.5%17.5\%.
Percent change is always measured relative to the original value. Dividing the absolute change by the original and multiplying by 100100 expresses the change as a standardised ratio, making it comparable across different contexts.

About Percent as Ratio

A ratio comparing a quantity to 100, written with the % symbol; 'per cent' literally means 'per hundred'.

Learn more about Percent as Ratio →

More Percent as Ratio Examples

Example 1 easy

A shirt originally costs [formula]45[formula]20%$ off. Find the sale price.

Example 2 medium

A student scores [formula] out of [formula] on a test. Express this as a percentage. Then determine

Example 3 easy

Convert each to the indicated form: (a) [formula] to percent, (b) [formula] to decimal, (c) [formula

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