Percentage change

Percentage change

Question 1

Mira made this table showing population data over two years for the six Australian states.
Some data for South Australia is not shown.

Population of Australian States
	2002 Population	2003 Population	Percentage increase from previous year
NSW	6 662 212	6 716 277	0.8%
VIC	4 884 952	4 947 985	1.3%
QLD	3 754 154	3 840 111	2.3%
SA	1 522 475	?	0.6%
WA	1 936 902	1 969 046	1.7%
TAS	474 305	479 958	1.2%

What was the population of South Australia (SA) closest to in 2003?

a

2 537 500

b

2 436 000

c

1 613 800

d

1 531 600

Solution

Method 1

Write the percentage as a fraction or decimal by dividing by 100 or use the percentage button on your calculator.

0.6% = 0.006.

Population in 2003	= Population in 2002 + 0.6% of the population in 2002
	= 1 522 475 + 0.006 × 1 522 475
	= 1 531 609.85.

This is closest to 1 531 600. The answer is d.

Some calculators might express the answer in a different form, like 1.53161E6. This means the answer is close to 1.53161 × 106 = 1 531 610. To avoid this output, try changing the float or highlight the answer and enter it in the next line.

Detailed description of video

Further explanation of percentage change