A question based on percents and its a word problem

Question

The economy has been good this year. Marsha’s employer gave all employees a 5% salary increase. Because Marsha received high marks on her performance review last year, she will receive an extra 12% of her new salary as a bonus this month only. By what percent did Marsha’s salary increase this month? (It’s not as simple as it seems)

Round to the nearest tenth of a percent

Answer 1

pick a base number, any number, such as say $100

she gets 5% increase to $105

then she gets another 12% increase to 105(.12) = 12.60

added to 105= $117.60

which is a 17.6% total percentage increase in her salary

although the company more likely will try to puff or exaggerate its percentage to look more generous and claim the 12% is on the original $100, so total increase is to just $17+$100= $117, just 17% increase

but it's only 60 cents difference for $100. Make that base salary $100,000 and it's a much bigger difference of .6x1000 = $600 difference, still the same percentage increase though, regardless of the base original salary