Percent increase measures the growth from an initial value to a final one in terms of 100 parts of the original. For example, a 5% increase means the original value has grown by 5 parts for every 100 units. This concept is crucial in mathematics and finds applications in various fields, including science for calculating changes in mass.

Percent Increase Formula:

The formula for percent increase is:

% Increase=100×(Final−Initial)∣Initial∣% Increase=∣Initial∣100×(Final−Initial)​

To illustrate, if a $1,250 investment grows to $1,445, the percent increase is calculated as (1,445−1,250)/1,250×100(1,445−1,250)/1,250×100, resulting in a 15.6% increase.

Calculating Percent Decrease:

The formula for percent decrease is similar:

% Decrease=100×(Initial−Final)∣Initial∣% Decrease=∣Initial∣100×(Initial−Final)​

For instance, if the value drops from $1,445 to $1,300, the percent decrease is (1,445−1,300)/1,445×100(1,445−1,300)/1,445×100, giving a 10% decrease.

FAQs:

  • Where is percentage increase useful?
  • Percentage increase is valuable for analyzing changes over time, especially when comparing different data sets. It provides a relative measure of growth, which is essential in various contexts.
  • How do I calculate percentage increase over time?
  • Divide the larger number by the original, subtract one, multiply by 100, and divide by the time period. For linear plots, further adjust for the time difference.
  • How do I add a percentage increase to a number?
  • Divide the number by 100, multiply by the desired percentage, and add the result to the original number.
  • How do I calculate a 10% increase?
  • Divide the number by 10 or multiply it by 0.1, then add the result to the original number.
  • How do I add 20% to a number?
  • Divide the original number by 100, multiply by 20, and add the result to the original number.