for example, in 1999 there are 40% of males in xyz. In 2000, there are 30% of males in xyz. Do we say the number of males have decreased by 10 percentage points or by 10 percent? Is there a difference between the two usage? Thanks!
2007-05-26 20:21:36 · 6 answers · asked by theangman 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
hmmm... two different answers... anyone else?
2007-05-26 20:40:34 · update #1
Grammatically speaking, we would say the number has "deceased by 10 percent" or "decreased by a percentage of 10".
2007-05-26 20:30:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
think of it this way:
For something to decrease by 10% would mean that the numbers decreased NOT the percentages, ie. 400 males of a population of 1000 in 1999. For a 10% decrease in males we would need 40 less males in 2000... (400-40)/400 = 90% (or 10% less!!); however, you can see that if the population remains at 1000 the percentage of males in 2000 would be 360/1000 or 36% -- even though the amount of males has decreased by 10%. It is possible that the overall population has also changed (indeed quite likely) so this would also change the percentages.
Thus it is more correct to say the amount of males has decreased by 10 percentage points as we do not know the overall population for either year!
2007-05-26 20:59:00 · answer #2 · answered by theanswerman 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We say the number of males has decreased by 10 percentage points. To say that the males had decreased by 10 % would mean that (the old number of mails minus the new number of males) divided by the old number of males is 10 %.
The 2000 population could be enough higher that 40% of the 1999 population could be less than 30% of the 2000 population, yet the percentage points have decreased.
2007-05-26 20:41:46 · answer #3 · answered by Helmut 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Should I risk answering this question? Not by the hairs on my chin chin chin a gin. The wind may come up & blow them in again. % of BA Michael. I have over 50% best answer. On this account anyway it is just for my own fun. I don't cheat but I do look for questions with low or no answers or those I have a good chance of giving the best answer. I check if they go to vote if so I vote for me. So their you go that's what I'm doing. All the best with your quest old man :)
2016-05-18 23:17:24 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
decreased by 10 percent
2007-05-26 20:41:52 · answer #5 · answered by Liberty 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Percentage points are the right thing to use in this case.
2007-05-26 20:32:01 · answer #6 · answered by Swamy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋