In 1979, the estimated elephant population was 1.3 million and in 2007 it was 640,000. By approximately what percentage did the elephant population decline over this time period?

Question

In 1979, the estimated elephant population was 1.3 million and in 2007 it was 640,000. By approximately what percentage did the elephant population decline over this time period? (Show your work.) How does this compare to the change in range over this same time period?

Answer 1

This is a percent change question :

New - Old⁄ Old ×100

Given

Old amount is in the year 1979 : 1.3 million (translated as 1,300,000)..

New amount is in the year 2007 :640,000

Plug in to the formula:

640000-1,300,000/1,300,000 *100 = -50.7% (negative percent tells you that there is a percent decrease between 1979 and 2007).