What percent decrease is this?

Question

The company where Jane worked closed. She had to take a new job at a lower salary. Her previous salary was $34,000 and her new salary is $26,520. What percent decrease is this?  I know the difference in salary is a decrease of $7,480. I do not know how to find the percent decrease in salary.

Answer 1

Hi Natasha,

 

You have already solved half of the problem by computing the difference. 

 

The question asks for the percentage drop,  but another way of staying that would be what fraction of did her salary drop?

 

So it dropped by $7,480/34,000.  If you enter that into your calculator and multiply by 100, you will have the percentage drop. 

 

If your teacher had asked what percentage more did Jane make at her old job than she currently makes,  you have to calculate the percentage in relation to her new smaller salary.  If you want you can calculate that as well and see how it compares to the answer to this question. 

 

If you have any questions, Please send them to me in a comment. 

 

Sincerely, 

 

Ralph