When calculating the percent change from $60 to $39, what is the first step?

When calculating the percent change from $60 to $39, what is the first step?

• A. Determine if it's an increase or decrease
• B. Calculate the new value
• C. Find the median
• D. Compute the range

Answer: (A)

The first step when calculating percent change is to determine if it's an increase or decrease. This is crucial because percent change is calculated based on how much the value has changed from the original to the new value. In this case, you start with $60 and go to $39. Since $39 is less than $60, this signifies a decrease. Understanding whether the change is an increase or a decrease will guide the calculation process and help you set up the formula correctly. Once it is established that this is a decrease, the next steps would involve calculating the amount of change, which can then be used to find the percent change based on the original value. Knowing if it's an increase or decrease affects how you interpret the result, especially in practical applications.

The first step when calculating percent change is to determine if it's an increase or decrease. This is crucial because percent change is calculated based on how much the value has changed from the original to the new value.

In this case, you start with $60 and go to $39. Since $39 is less than $60, this signifies a decrease. Understanding whether the change is an increase or a decrease will guide the calculation process and help you set up the formula correctly.

Once it is established that this is a decrease, the next steps would involve calculating the amount of change, which can then be used to find the percent change based on the original value. Knowing if it's an increase or decrease affects how you interpret the result, especially in practical applications.