Decreasing b when a increases by 10%

  • Thread starter Jahnavi
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In summary, if two variables a and b have a constant product, a 10% increase in a will result in a 9.09% decrease in b. However, this answer may not be accurate as it would lead to a 100% decrease in b if a was increased by 100%.
  • #1
Jahnavi
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Homework Statement



a and B are two variables such that their
product ab = constant .If a increases by 10%,
by how much does b decrease ?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
ab = constant

If a changes to 11a/10 , then b has to change
to 10b/11.

% Change in b is = (b - 10b/11)/b = 9.09%

b decreases by 9.09% .

But the answer given is 10% .

Is 9.09% decrease in b correct ?
 
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  • #2
Hi Jahnavi,

Yep, 9.09% decrease in b is correct.
 
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  • #3
Yes.

By the same reasoning used to obtain the quoted answer you would get a 100% decrease in b if you increased a by 100%, which is ridiculous.
 
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1. What is a "percentage decrease problem"?

A percentage decrease problem is a type of mathematical problem that involves calculating the decrease in a value or quantity expressed as a percentage of the original value. It is often used to determine changes in prices, population, or other measurable quantities.

2. How do you calculate percentage decrease?

To calculate percentage decrease, you first need to determine the difference between the new value and the original value. Then, divide this difference by the original value and multiply by 100 to get the percentage. The formula is: (new value - original value) / original value x 100.

3. Can you provide an example of a percentage decrease problem?

Sure, for example, if a shirt that originally cost $50 is now on sale for $40, the decrease in price would be $10. To determine the percentage decrease, we would divide $10 by $50 and multiply by 100, giving us a 20% decrease in price.

4. Are there any real-world applications for percentage decrease problems?

Yes, percentage decrease problems are commonly used in finance, economics, and business to track changes in prices, profits, and other important metrics. They are also used in population studies to analyze changes in population size over time.

5. How can I solve a percentage decrease problem if I don't know the original value?

If you only have the new value and the percentage decrease, you can use the formula: original value = new value / (1 - percentage decrease). For example, if a population decreased by 10% and the current population is 90,000, the original population would be 100,000 (90,000 / (1 - 0.10)).

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