Is $3300 50% more than $2200, or 1/3 more?

[erags]

Please help resolve a simple dispute:

My husband arranged to have our bathroom retiled for $2,200 but now the contractor wants $3,300. I said 50% more than the original price was ridiculous. My husband insists that the guy wants a 1/3rd more, not 50% more.

Who is right?

 

[jwpaine]

lets say I have $500 dollars, and I want to give 50% of it to my friend: I would say that the friend could have 0.5(500)

Is 0.5(2200) + 2200 = 3300? or is (1/3)(2200) + 2200 = 3300 ?

 

[arthur ohlsten]

He wants 50% more than the original price.
His final price is 33 1/3 % HIGHER THAN HIS ORIGINAL PRICE>

I think this is right

Arthur

 

[Denis]

Well, easy to see that 100% would be 4400, hence 2200 increase;
so if 2200 increase = 100%, then a 1100 increase = 50% :idea:

So hubby is wrong: make SURE you tell him :wink:

 

[soroban]

Re: Please help resolve a simple dispute...

Hello, erags!

My husband arranged to have our bathroom retiled for $2,200
but now the contractor wants $3,300.
I said 50% more than the original price was ridiculous.
My husband insists that the guy wants a 1/3rd more, not 50% more.

Who is right?

You are right . . .

A percent of change is always compared to the original amount.

The original price was $2,200.
There is an increase of: \(\displaystyle \,\$3,300\,-\,2,200\:=\:\$1,100\)

The percent of increase is: \(\displaystyle \:\frac{1,100}{2,200} \:=\:\frac{1}{2}\:=\:\)\(\displaystyle {\color{blue}50\%}\)