An employee was hired at a wage of $8.00 per hour. After a raise, the employee earned $8.75 cents per hour. What was the percent increase?

Question

hero · Answer

If you let: 
a = 1st number
b = 2nd number

Then, the percent change from a to b is:
$$\% \Delta = \frac{|a - b|}{a} \times 100$$

hero · Answer

There's nothing more to explain. Simply input a = 8.00 and b = 8.75 into the formula and evaluate.

anonymous · Answer

I'm looking at @Hero 's explanation and it is perfect.  I don't think I could add anything to it.

mariebrittany07 · Answer

can you show me more how to do it please

hero · Answer

$$\% \Delta = \frac{|8 - 8.75|}{8} \times 100$$

mariebrittany07 · Answer

okay how do you solve it and evaluate it

anonymous · Answer

Are you familiar with the |  |  symbol for absolute value?

mariebrittany07 · Answer

sort of

anonymous · Answer

A way-simplified explanation (which will suffice for now) is just to perform the operation(s) inside and make it positive, whatever the answer is.  Then divide by 8, then multiply by 100 and you have a positive answer expressed as a percentage change.

mariebrittany07 · Answer

so can you please show me

anonymous · Answer

What is 8 - 8.75 ?

mariebrittany07 · Answer

$$8-8.75=-0.75$$

mariebrittany07 · Answer

so then do i divide 0.75 by 8

hero · Answer

|n| = absolute value of a number = distance of a number from zero
|-0.75| = absolute value of -0.75 = distance of -0.75 from zero = 0.75

anonymous · Answer

Ok, good.  Yes, divide 0.75 by 8.  Then multiply it by 100.

hero · Answer

Multiply by 100 first, then divide by 8

hero · Answer

You should have 75/8 afterwards

mariebrittany07 · Answer

$$0.75 \div 8 = 0.09375 $$

mariebrittany07 · Answer

$$0.09375\times 100 =937500$$

hero · Answer

Moving over two decimal places to the right is the same as multiplying by 100

mariebrittany07 · Answer

am i right

hero · Answer

You should have 9.375

hero · Answer

How did the decimal point disappear after you multiplied by 100?

mariebrittany07 · Answer

i have no idea how the decimal has disappeared after i multiplied it by 100

mariebrittany07 · Answer

how did you get 9.375

hero · Answer

Try multiplying by 100 again

hero · Answer

Start with 0.09375, then multiply by 100

mariebrittany07 · Answer

i have no idea what i did to get that answer but i got the right one now

mariebrittany07 · Answer

is that all that i have to do

hero · Answer

Yes, you are essentially done, however, it is usually appropriate to state the percent change from a to b in the form of a sentence.

hero · Answer

Thus the percent change from a to b is 9.375