need help math wise - urgent

Guys and Gals... I need some help maths wise. I feel as though I just cant learn anymore and indeed, I seem to be having problems remembering the most basic things. Therefore, its getting to me and also affecting my work badly. I feel as though I have reached the capacity to learn and take things in and just cant anymore. Its almost as if the brain is a sponge and its so soaked, it cant store anything. Consequently, what goes in, stays for a minute or two and then shoots straight out.
I need an answer to something and need to know how to do it very basically - I think I asked it a while ago, but, again, I just dont know and it really is upsetting me. I am at the stage when I want to get out of the place and am gonna start looking elsewhere.

Anyway, can someone please help me. This is gonna seem basic to you, but to me - I just cant recall how to do this.

Lets say one month, we sold 1500 items. The following month we sold 1268 (any figure lower). How do I work the difference out as a percentage? Please.

I know the answer in a number 1500 - 1268 - i just cant recall how to do it as a %.

Same if the figure had gone up as above from 1268 - 1500 - how do i work it out as a percentage.

Just tell me how to do things like this in a very basic and easy to understand way.

I think with all thats happened, I just cant concentrate and yes, I am making an appointment medical wise as well...

Thanks guys

K

Hi Kev Don't worry - we all get mental blocks sometimes!

Assuming you want to find the percentage increase / decrease....

First, find the amount of the increase / decrease - do this by taking the new amount minus the original amount.

Second, compare the increase / decrease to the original amount - do this by dividing the increase / decrease to the original amount (i.e. turn it into a fraction)

Third, multiply by 100 to turn the fraction into a percentage.

In your example:
When your figures have decreased....
1: 1268 - 1500 = -232 (or a decrease of 232)
2: - 232 / 1268 = - 0.18
3: - 0.18 X 100 = 18% (decrease)

When your figures have increased....
1: 1500 - 1268 = 232 (or an increase of 232)
2: 232 / 1500 = 0.15
3: 0.15 X 100 = 15% (increase)

Hope this helps

WOW! That just put my brain on overload! I'm glad someone could helpout! I"m still struggling with that! LOL!

last time i tried to help my daughter with her amths she got it all wrong,and a letter came home asking me not to help and she was only year 8

Another way to see that is this little cross thingie.


1268 x
----- * ----
1500 100

and the answer is x=83.54~ which is 18%

Here's another way to do it that my son finds easier.

If you sold 1500 in Sept. and then only 1268 in Oct., you can write those numbers as a fraction:

1500
-------
1268

Now, put a fraction next to it with the top blank and the bottom at 100 (as in 100%)


------
100

Now, Muiltiply 1500 by 100 (150,000) and then divide it by the number below the 1500 which is your 1268. So, in other words: 150,000 ./. 1268 = 118.30

So, that means that you sold 18.3% more on the month you sold 1500 items.

Hope that all made sense.

Now, try it in reverse.

1268
------ X ------
1500 100



It would then be 1268 X 100 ./. 1500 = 84.53

So, 1268 is 84.53% of 1500.

Originally Posted by boys mum

last time i tried to help my daughter with her amths she got it all wrong,and a letter came home asking me not to help

and she was only year 8

Click to expand...

That brought back memories. When I was taking Algebra, my dad tried to help. The problem was that he had an engineering degree and tried to help me with calculus!! I kept saying to him, I have X and Y, NO Z. When my younger sister took Algebra, I helped instead of dad.

*Is mindboggled*

Originally Posted by boys mum

last time i tried to help my daughter with her amths she got it all wrong,and a letter came home asking me not to help

and she was only year 8

Click to expand...

Oh man!!! I'd feel sooo bad!!!! And I am also in that same boat, expecting a letter from the teacher any time now...
I can NOT BELIEVE what they are expecting of my 1st and 2nd graders already... It'll only take another year or two and they'll be on their own, with no Mommy to help... Fortunately they are both great at math. The other day, my 6 yro. asked me: "Mommy, if 10 x 100 is 1000, would 20 x 100 be 2000?" And I had to actually think, and add 0's to let her know if that was correct... And she complains these days, that she's no good at math...
All I can say is I'M SO GLAD I'M NOT IN SCHOOL ANYMORE!!!