Calculate Percent Increase (Step-by-Step Guide)
To calculate percent increase, subtract the original value from the new value, divide by the original value, and multiply by 100. This formula shows how much a value has increased as a percentage.
Learning how to calculate percent increase is an important math skill used in real life. You’ll see percent increase in prices, salaries, population growth, and many everyday situations. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through a simple step-by-step method and solve examples to help you understand the process.
The formula for percent increase is:
\large \text{Percent Increase} = \frac{\text{New Value} - \text{Original Value}}{\text{Original Value}} \times 100
Steps to Calculate Percent Increase
- Find the difference. Subtract the original value from the new value.
- Divide by the original value.
- Multiply by 100. This converts the result to a percent.
Example 1: Find the Percent Increase from 50 to 65
\large 50 \rightarrow 65
Step 1: Find the difference.
\large 65 - 50 = 15
Step 2: Divide by the original value.
\large \frac{15}{50} = 0.3
Step 3: Multiply by 100.
\large 0.3 \times 100 = 30\%
Final Answer:
\large 30\%
Example 2: Price Increase
A TV originally costs $400 and increases to $480. What is the percent increase?
Step 1: Find the difference.
\large 480 - 400 = 80
Step 2: Divide by the original value.
\large \frac{80}{400} = 0.2
Step 3: Multiply by 100.
\large 0.2 \times 100 = 20\%
Final Answer:
\large 20\%
Watch Step-by-Step Example
Watch John explain a percent increase problem in detail:
Common Mistakes When Calculating Percent Increase
- Dividing by the new value instead of the original value
- Forgetting to multiply by 100
- Mixing up percent increase and percent decrease
- Subtracting in the wrong order
Related Percent Tutorials
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the formula for percent increase?
The formula is: \large \frac{\text{New} - \text{Original}}{\text{Original}} \times 100
Why do you divide by the original value?
The original value is your starting point, so percent increase measures how much change occurred relative to that starting amount.
What is percent increase used for?
Percent increase is used in finance, business, and everyday situations like price changes, salary increases, and population growth.
What is the percent increase from 100 to 150?
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