A city's population fell from about 951,000 in 2000 to about 714,000 in 2010. Rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent, what was the percent decrease?
A33.2%
B25.9%
C24.9%
D23.7%
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. 24.9%
1. Find the amount of decrease: 951,000 minus 714,000 equals 237,000 people.
2. The percent decrease is the decrease divided by the original amount, not the new amount.
3. Divide: 237,000 divided by 951,000 equals 0.24921... as a decimal.
4. Move the decimal point two places to the right: 24.921...%.
5. Round to the nearest tenth of a percent: 24.9%.
6. 33.2% is the trap of dividing the decrease by the new population of 714,000 instead of the original.
7. 23.7% just echoes the leading digits of the 237,000 decrease, and 25.9% comes from a slip in the long division.
_Source: OpenStax Prealgebra (CC BY 4.0), Ch 6 "Percents", section 6.2 Solve General Applications of Percent_
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