Suppose an amount increases by 100%, then decreases by 100%. Find the final amount. Would the situation change if the original increase was 150%? Explain.

Question

Mathematics

Isaias Hughes

8 February, 15:20

Suppose an amount increases by 100%, then decreases by 100%. Find the final amount. Would the situation change if the original increase was 150%? Explain.

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Erick Crosby · Answer 1

Well to solve this, lets plug in some numbers. Lets assume that for now, the starting number is 2. If it increases by 100%, bringing it up to 4, then decreases 100%, it is brought down to zero. Now one thing to note is that any number decrease by 100% is automatically zero. Watch, we start with two, it is then increased by 150%, bringing it up to 5, then decreased by 100%, bringing it back down to zero. In conclusion, 100% cannot be specified as a value, but rather a relation. 100% represents the entire number, meaning that if you are decreasing a number by 100%, you are basically subtracting the number by itself!