What is the population percentage of City A compared to City B?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around determining the population percentage of City A in relation to City B, given that City A's population is 18% less than that of City B. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and the interpretation of percentages as ratios.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that if the population of City A is 18% less than City B, then A can be expressed as A = B - 0.18.
  • Another participant proposes that the ratio of A to B can be represented as $\frac{A}{B} = 0.82$.
  • A different participant notes that the value 0.82 is derived from subtracting 0.18 from 1.00 and questions the reasoning behind setting up the ratio A/B.
  • One participant explains that percents can be viewed as ratios, using an example to illustrate that $\frac{A}{B} = 0.82$ and suggests solving for A to find the percentage of B that A represents.
  • A participant reflects on their initial misunderstanding, indicating a shift in their understanding of the relationship between A and B.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the setup of the problem and the interpretation of the relationship between the populations of the two cities. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives on the correct approach.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of missing assumptions regarding the definitions of population percentages and ratios, as well as unresolved mathematical steps in the reasoning presented.

mathdad
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The population of city A is 18% less than the population of City B. City A population is what percent of City B?

My Effort:

A = B - 0.18

Let x = what percent

A = x(B - 0.18)

Correct?
 
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$\frac AB = 0.82$
 
Obviously, 0.82 came from subtracting 0.18 from 1.00.
You are saying that the answer is the equation A/B = 0.82.
What words in the application told you to set up what you did?
Why A/B?
 
Percents may be viewed as ratios. For example, 2 is 50% of 4 and 2/4 = 0.5. That tells us that, for your question, $\frac AB=0.82$. Now solve for $A$ to find what percentage of $B$ is $A$. My apologies if my previous post seemed incomplete.
 
At first, I thought the answer was A = 0.18B but now I now know better.
 

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