in 1995 the average cost of tuition at a university was $2811. By 2009, the cost had risen by 150%. What was the cost in 2009?

Question

The answer is $7028 and I'm not sure how that answer was obtained

Answer 1

"Risen by 150%" should mean that the rise was 1.5 times what the original tuition was, so this means that the new tuition in 2009 would be 2.5 (yes, two & one half) times as much; 2.5 times $2811 = $7027.50

 

It's much clearer if stated in this form: the INCREASE in tuition was 150% of the base tuition in 1995.