Final amount after a percent change

Two-part: find the dollar amount of the change, then find the final value. Same %-of-base move from L3.

01 Worked Example Video

Every step of Final amount after a percent change explained on video. Pause anywhere; the embed scrolls independently of the page.

YOUTUBE

02 What This Looks Like on ALEKS

ALEKS randomizes the numbers each attempt, but the question shape stays the same. Here are two example versions you might see.

Decrease in dollars

Last year, Kevin opened an investment account with $8,500. At the end of the year, the amount in the account had decreased by 24.4%.

How much is this decrease in dollars? Type just the number (no $ sign).

decrease = $

Year-end amount

Kevin started with $8,500 and lost $2,074. What’s his year-end balance? Type just the number (no $ sign).

year-end = $

Heads up: Your ALEKS version will use different numbers. The numbers in the practice below are different too — that way you're exercising the move, not memorizing one answer.

03 The Rule

change amount rate × original

final amount original ± change

Two computations, one problem. First find the dollar amount of the change, then apply it to the original. Subtract for a decrease, add for an increase. See it live: 18% of $5,000 in the Percent Sandbox →

Common slip

Forgot to convert the percent. Multiplying 24.4 × 8,500 (skipping ÷ 100) gives $207,400 — way off. Always convert: 24.4% = 0.244. Second slip: subtracting the percent instead of the dollar amount. Compute the $2,074 first, then subtract that from $8,500 — never subtract “24.4” directly.

04 Practice — Step by Step

Practice this problem step by step

Sarah’s $5,000 investment account decreased by 18% last year. What was the year-end amount?

Step 1

Convert the percent

Write 18% as a decimal.

18% =

Step 2

Find the dollar amount of the decrease

Multiply 0.18 × $5,000. Type just the number (no $ sign).

decrease = $

Step 3

Find the year-end amount

Sarah started at $5,000 and lost $900. What’s her year-end balance?

year-end = $

Q7 Q9

Final amount after a percent change

You walked the percent-change move end to end.