# Math Help - Basic question about percentage

1. ## Basic question about percentage

Old brain can't get around this one today....its really basic, I'm pretty embarrassed.

Insurance was:
EUR2,681 for 2008
It has increased to:
EUR4,835 for 2010

Whats the percentage increase from 2008 to 2010?

Hoping for a swift reply, without too much laughter!

Gerts.

2. Originally Posted by Gerts
Old brain can't get around this one today....its really basic, I'm pretty embarrassed.

Insurance was:
EUR2,681 for 2008
It has increased to:
EUR4,835 for 2010

Whats the percentage increase from 2008 to 2010?

Hoping for a swift reply, without too much laughter!

Gerts.
Hi Gerts,

the premium has increased by $4,835-2,681=2,154\ euro$

It has increased from EUR2,681

Hence, express the increase as a fraction of the initial amount.
To convert a fraction to a percentage, multiply the fraction by 100.

$\frac{2,154}{2,681}(100)\ =\ percentage\ increase$

3. Thank you Archie,

I'm on really old methods:

"Cross multiply and divide by the one opposite the question mark"

But, my problem was which figure to take as the 100% starting point, which you have so clearly explained is the initial amount.

This, compounded with the fact that (if I've done it right) the answer is just over an 80% increase on the insurance in 2 years, unsurprisingly made me doubt my answer.
And now, I have the difficult task of debating this with the insurance company.

Best regards,
Gerts.

4. Originally Posted by Gerts
Thank you Archie,

I'm on really old methods:

"Cross multiply and divide by the one opposite the question mark"

But, my problem was which figure to take as the 100% starting point, which you have so clearly explained is the initial amount.

This, compounded with the fact that (if I've done it right) the answer is just over an 80% increase on the insurance in 2 years, unsurprisingly made me doubt my answer.
And now, I have the difficult task of debating this with the insurance company.

Best regards,
Gerts.
Yes, that's a big hike in the premium.
Almost double the original amount.
Double would be an increase of 100 percent.