Increasing and Decreasing by Percentages
When you need to increase or decrease an amount by a percentage, you can do it step by step or use the clever multiplier method. The step-by-step way means finding the percentage amount first, then adding or subtracting it from your original number.
The multiplier method is brilliant for calculator work and essential for compound interest problems. For a 15% increase, think "I'll have 115% total" (100% + 15%), which equals 1.15 as a decimal. For a 33% decrease, think "I'll have 67% left" (100% - 33%), which equals 0.67 as a decimal.
Expressing one number as a percentage of another is dead useful for test scores and comparing amounts. Just create a fraction and convert it so the bottom number is 100. If you scored 18 out of 20, that's 18/20 = 90/100 = 90%.
Calculator Shortcut: To find one number as a percentage of another, divide the first by the second, then multiply by 100.