How to Calculate Percent Decrease: A Step-by-Step Guide with Examples for Math Students

Percent Decrease

Percent decrease is a way to measure the decrease in a quantity expressed as a percentage of its original value

Percent decrease is a way to measure the decrease in a quantity expressed as a percentage of its original value. It is calculated by finding the difference between the original value and the new value, dividing that difference by the original value, and then multiplying by 100.

To calculate the percent decrease, you can follow these steps:

1. Determine the original value (let’s call it O) and the new value (let’s call it N).

2. Find the difference between the original value and the new value: Difference = O – N.

3. Divide the difference by the original value: Fraction = Difference / O.

4. Multiply the fraction by 100 to express it as a percentage: Percent Decrease = Fraction * 100.

Here is an example to illustrate the calculation:

Let’s say the original value of an item is $100 and it decreases to $80.

1. Original value (O) = $100.
New value (N) = $80.

2. Difference = O – N = $100 – $80 = $20.

3. Fraction = Difference / O = $20 / $100 = 0.2.

4. Percent Decrease = Fraction * 100 = 0.2 * 100 = 20%.

So, in this example, the percent decrease is 20%. This means that the item decreased in value by 20% compared to its original value.

It’s important to note that a percent decrease is always expressed as a positive value. If the new value is greater than the original value, then you would have a percent increase instead.

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