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To: Genoa; Alberta's Child
If you're looking for a "percentage change" from Condition A to Condition B, always use Condition A (the starting point) as the denominator in the calculation.
Don't be confused by the posters who tell you to "divide by the lower number."
“The lower number” is condition A, so what’s your point?
That's the right answer in this case, but not in every case.
It would always be right provided that the change was an increase. Alberta's Child’s formulation also works when the change is a decrease.

But “subtract the smaller number from the larger” yields a similar, but not correct result in that case. The result will be similar but not correct, and will also of the wrong sign - positive, when it should be negative.


53 posted on 04/15/2014 4:30:09 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion ("Liberalism” is a conspiracy against the public by wire-service journalism.)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion
provided that the change was an increase

It was an increase in the problem! Don't give me your fancy new math, you young puppy. The old math works just fine. ;-)

59 posted on 04/15/2014 4:46:39 PM PDT by Genoa (Starve the beast.)
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