As A Formula

This is the formula for "Percentage Error":

|Approximate Value Exact Value|
100%
|Exact Value|
(The "|" symbols mean absolute value, so negatives become positive)

Example: I thought 70 people would turn up to the concert, but in fact 80

did!

|70 80||80| 100% = 1080 100% = 12.5%

I was in error by 12.5%
Example: The report said the carpark held 240 cars, but we counted only 200
parking spaces.

|240 200||200| 100% = 40200 100% = 20%

The report had a 20% error.
We can also use a theoretical value (when it is well known) in place of
an exact value.

Example: Sam does an experiment to find how long it takes an

apple to drop 2 meters.
The theoretical value (using physics formulas) is 0.64 seconds

But Sam measures 0.62 seconds (an approximate value)

|0.62 0.64||0.64| 100%

= 0.020.64 100%
= 3% (to nearest 1%)

So Sam was only 3% off.

Without "Absolute Value"

You can also use the formula without "Absolute Value". This can give a
positive or negative result, which may be useful to know.
Approximate Value Exact Value
100%
Exact Value
Example: They forecast 20 mm of rain, but we really got 25 mm.

20 2525 100% = 525 100% = 20%

They were in error by 20% (their estimate was too low)

1. Find the resulting new increased or decreased quantity due to:

(i) 8 % decrease in $ 400
(ii) 5 % increase in 25 km
(iii) 121/2 % increase in a speed of 600 km/h
(iv) 30 % decrease in a temperature of 40 Celsius
(v) 2.5 % increase in a salary of $ 1250
(vi) 2.5 % decrease in 800 gram

2. Find the percentage change from the first quantity to the second quantity:
(i) $75; $90
(ii) 40 cm; 60 cm
(iii) 20 gm; 5 gm
(iv) 60 km/h; 45 km/h
(v) 5 dozen eggs; 100 eggs
(vi) 13.5; 18

3. Increase 150 by 10 % and decrease the same by 15 %. Find the new number in each
case.
4. The population of a place in a particular year increased by 15 %. Next year it
decreased by 15%. Find the net increase or decrease per cent in the initial population.
5. While measuring a line segment of length 5 cm, it was measured 5.2 cm by mistake.
Find the percentage error in measuring the line segment.
6. A number is increased by 40 % and then decreased by 40 %. Find the net increase or
decrease per cent.
7. The price of wheat increased by 10 %. By how much per cent should mother reduce
her consumption in the house so that her expenditure on wheat does not increase?
8. The salary of a doctor is increased by 40 %. By what per cent should the new salary
be reduced in order to restore the original salary?
9. A number 75 is misread as 57. Find the reading error per cent.

Answers for the worksheet on increase and decrease percentage are given below to
check the exact answers of the above questions.

Answers:

1. (i) $368
(ii) 26.25 km
(iii) 675 km/h
(iv) 28 Celsius
(v) $1281.25
(vi) 780 gram

2. (i) 20 % increase
(ii) 50 % increase
(iii) 75 % decrease
(iv) 25 % decrease
(v) 662/3 % increase
(vi) 331/3 % increase

3. 165, 127.5
4. 2.25 % decreased
5. 4 %
6. 16 %
7. 91/11 %
8. 284/7 %
9. 24 %