If I have a building that is 13,000 sq. feet and a building that is 5,880 sq. feet, what is the percentage difference? Or shall I say the percentage decrease? How do you do this?
2007-10-05 14:18:42 · 4 answers · asked by momfirst 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
13,000 --> 5,880.
This is a decrease of 7,120 feet.
7120
--------- x 100% ≈ 54.769%
13000
The percentage *difference* is approximately 54.77%
Everyone else is answering the percentage, but not the percentage *decrease*.
ALTERNATE METHOD:
The other way to do this is to figure the smaller divided by the larger times 100%
5880
--------- x 100% ≈ 45.23%
13000
This comes out to approximately 45.23% (like everyone else has). But since you want the percentage difference, you have to subtract this from 100%. The bigger building is 100% and the smaller building is 45.23% as big. The difference is found by subtracting.
The percentage *decrease* is approximately 54.77%
REASONING:
In case you aren't sure, think about another case. Let's say you started with something that weighed 100 lbs. and it now weighs 99 lbs.
Using everyone else's method, they would say the percentage difference is 99%. But you and I know that it is only 1% (just a little bit).
2007-10-05 14:40:40 · answer #1 · answered by Puzzling 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Divide the numbers and multiply by 100%:
= (5880 / 13000) x 100%
= 0.4523 x 100 %
= 45.23%
Meaning that 5880 is only 45.23% of 13000
2007-10-05 21:38:07 · answer #2 · answered by mitzbitz 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
5880 divided by 13000 = 0.452, so the smaller building is 45% as big as the larger building.
2007-10-05 21:28:53 · answer #3 · answered by littlesister_md 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ummmmmm........
5880 sq.ft. divided by 13000 sq.ft. equals 45.23%?
2007-10-05 21:33:17 · answer #4 · answered by watchamakalit_beibe 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋