Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisMediumPercent increase in a distance
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question
A runner's weekly training distance went from 32 kilometres to 40 kilometres. By what percent did the distance increase?
Answer: 25
Increase: 40 − 32 = 8. As a fraction of the ORIGINAL: 8/32 = 0.25 = 25%.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 8
- 8 is the increase in kilometres, not the percent.
- If you answered 20
- 20% is 8/40, dividing by the new distance. Percent change is measured against the original, 32.
- If you answered 125
- 125% is 40/32 as a percent — the new distance as a share of the old. The INCREASE is 125% − 100% = 25%.
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