# Thread: Percentages?

1. ## Percentages?

A farmer decreased his fields size by 20%. How many % must his harvest per hectare increase so his total harvest would increase by 20%?

2. Originally Posted by MadMan
A farmer decreased his fields size by 20%. How many % must his harvest per hectare increase so his total harvest would increase by 20%?
Pick any amount you like for the initial size. (The actual amounts are not the point: you're looking at fractions and proportions.)

Find 20% of this. Subtract it from your initial amount.

By what amount is the new, smaller amount lower than the initial amount? What percentage is this shortage of the new amount?

This is the percentage of the new amount by which he would have to increase the new amount, in order to return to the original amount.

(Hint: Your answer should be something larger than 20%.)

3. Thanks, I think the answer is 50% then.

4. Originally Posted by MadMan
Thanks, I think the answer is 50% then.
Um... no. Please reply with a clear listing of your steps, so we can help you find the error(s). For simplicity, let's use "100" as the starting value.

Please be complete. Thank you!