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Percentages SAT question

Math · Problem-Solving and Data Analysis · Hard · Answer it here, explanation included.

The value of a collectible comic book increased by from the end of  to the end of  and then decreased by  from the end of  to the end of . What was the net percentage increase in the value of the collectible comic book from the end of to the end of ?

ExplanationShow

Choice A is correct. It’s given that the value of the comic book increased by  from the end of to the end of . Therefore, if the value of the comic book at the end of was dollars, then the value, in dollars, of the comic book at the end of was , which can be rewritten as , or . It’s also given that the value of the comic book decreased by  from the end of to the end of . Therefore, the value, in dollars, of the comic book at the end of was , which can be rewritten as , or . Thus, if the value of the comic book at the end of was dollars, and the value of the comic book at the end of was dollars, then from the end of to the end of , the value of the comic book increased by , or , dollars. Therefore, the increase in the value of the comic book from the end of to the end of is equal to times the value of the comic book at the end of . It follows that from the end of to the end of , the net percentage increase in the value of the comic book was , or .

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors. 

Choice C is incorrect. This is the difference between the net percentage increase in the value of the comic book from the end of to the end of and the net percentage decrease in the value of the comic book from the end of to the end of , not the net percentage increase in the value of the comic book from the end of to the end of .

Choice D is incorrect. This is the net percentage increase in the value of the comic book from the end of to the end of , if the value of the comic book increased by  from the end of to the end of and then increased, not decreased, by  from the end of  to the end of .

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