If a quantity decreases from 72 to 54, what is the percent decrease?

If a quantity decreases from 72 to 54, what is the percent decrease?

• A. 18%
• B. 25%
• C. 30%
• D. 36%

Answer: (B)

Percent decrease measures how much a quantity drops relative to where it started. To find it, subtract the new amount from the original amount to get the decrease, then divide that by the original amount and multiply by 100%. Here, the original amount is 72 and the new amount is 54, so the decrease is 72 − 54 = 18. Now take 18 divided by 72, which is 1/4 or 0.25. Multiply by 100% to get 25%. So, the quantity decreased by 25%, and 25% is the percent decrease.

Percent decrease measures how much a quantity drops relative to where it started. To find it, subtract the new amount from the original amount to get the decrease, then divide that by the original amount and multiply by 100%.

Here, the original amount is 72 and the new amount is 54, so the decrease is 72 − 54 = 18. Now take 18 divided by 72, which is 1/4 or 0.25. Multiply by 100% to get 25%.

So, the quantity decreased by 25%, and 25% is the percent decrease.