What is the percent of increase in body weight after three months?
Solution: The increase in weight is 8-5 or 3 pounds, which must be compared (divided by) the original weight of 5 pounds. The percent of increase is 3/5, which converts to the decimal 0.60, or a 60% increase. Example 7: It is normal for a baby to lose weight in the days immediately after birth. A baby that weights 5 pounds at birth drops to a low of 4.5 pounds before beginning to gain weight normally. What was the percent of decrease in weight? Solution: The decrease in weight was 5.0-4.5 or 0.5 pounds. This must be compared to the original weight of 5 pounds. The percent of decrease is 0.5/5, which is 0.10, or a 10% decrease. Example 8: A child weighs 65 pounds at her annual checkup at the doctors office. If she weighed 50 pounds at last years visit, what was her percent of increase? Solution: The amount of increase was 65-50 or 15 pounds. Remember that the original weight was last years weight, which was 50 pounds. The percent of increase was 15/50, which is 0.30, or a 30% increase.
