What is the percentage change when 1500 becomes 2000?

Marie

Hi Marie,

Measure the change by taking the new value and subtracting the old value

2000 - 1500 = 500

To express this as a proportion of the old value, divide by the old value

500/1500 = 1/3 = 0.333

Finally to express this proportion as a percentage, multiply by 100

0.333 100 = 33.3

Thus the percentage change from 1500 to 2000 is 33.3%. Since this is positive you might call this a percentage increase. If the change had been from 1500 to 1200 then the change is

1200 - 1500 = -300

so the percentage change is

 ^-300/₁₅₀₀ 100 = - 20, that is -20%.

Another way to say this is that a going from 1500 to 1200 is a 20% decrease.

Penny