SOLUTION: Hi, my son needs help with this problem, can you please show me how to do it and answer. Thanks Lorrie. For each pair of numbers, tell: By what percent of the first number is th

To answer the question "By what percent of the first number is the second number larger?",

you need to do the following:


    a)  calculate the difference (second number MINUS first number);

    b)  relate this difference to the first number;

    c)  Multiply this ratio by 100 to get the percentage.


Concretely, to answer by what percent of the first number 20 is the second number 25 larger, you calculate THIS


          to get the ANSWER  " by   = 25% ".


Remember and memorize that after reading this question IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO YOU (and to your son)

    THAT the base for the comparison in this case is THE FIRST NUMBER: therefore, it stays in the denominator.




To answer the question "By what percent of the second number is the first number smaller?",

you need to do the following:


    a)  calculate the difference (second number MINUS first number);

    b)  relate this difference to the second number;

    c)  Multiply this ratio by 100 to get the percentage.


Concretely, to answer by what percent of the second number 25 is the first number 20 smaller, you calculate THIS


          to get the ANSWER  " by   = 20% ".


Remember and memorize that after reading this question IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO YOU (and to your son)

    THAT the base for the comparison in this case is THE SECOND NUMBER: therefore, it stays in the denominator.