Harry notes that the state sales tax went from 2% to 2.5%, which he says is not too bad because it's just a one-half percent increase. But Linda says that it really is bad because it's a 25% increase. Who's right, and why?

We conclude that Linda is right, and that it really is bad because it's a 25% increase.

Step-by-step explanation:

Harry notes that the state sales tax went from 2% to 2.5%.

Therefore, we get the following proportion.

We calculate:

2% : 100% = 2.5% : x

2x=100 · 2.5

2x=250

x=125%

So, we conclude it's a 125% - 100% = 25% increase.

We conclude that Linda is right, and that it really is bad because it's a 25% increase.