The population of the town of Homeville increased by approximately 0.5% last year. If the population at the beginning of the year was 2,460, what was the approximate population by the end of the year?
A)2,472
B)2,960
C)2,465
D)2,465.
E)2,510

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This problem is asking you to find ½ of 1 percent change of 2,460. To do this mentally, first determine what 1 percent of the original number is, then half that. In this case, 1% of 2,460 is 24.6, and half of that is 12.3. Since you can't have 3/10 of a person, we can approximate the population increase as 12 people. Add that to the initial 2,460 to find that the new population is 2,472.
Key takeaway: There are many types of percent problems you may encounter. It will be helpful to you if you know that you find 10% of a number by moving the decimal one place to the left and 1% of a number by moving the decimal point two places to the left.

The Population of the Town of Homeville Increased by Approximately