Question

The population of the state was 649 thousand, if the population decreased by .4 percent from 2000 to 2009. Find the population in 2009.

Answer 1

In 2000, the population was 649,000. So that's equal to 100%. By 2009, the population decreased by .4%

So 100% minus .4%. equals 99.6%

So the population in 2009 is 99.6% of 649,000. When you see the word "of" in word problems, think multiplication. So let's replace the word "of" with a times sign.

So we now have 99.6% times 649,000. Now let's change 99.6% to a decimal and get rid of that ugly % sign.

To change a percent to a decimal, move the decimal point to the left two places.

So now we have .996 instead of 99.6%.

Now let mulitply .996 times 649,000. We should get 646,404 as the population in 2009.