
According to the chart above, the income of Beta Corporation in 2000 was what fraction of Alpha Corporation’s income in 2004?
A. 0.88 / 13
B. 1.74 / 13
C. 2 / 7
D. 2 / 5.8
E. 2.9 / 0.87
(D) As shown in the chart, Beta Corporation's 2004 income is $1.74 billion. The chart shows that this is a 13%
decrease from Beta’s income in 2000.
To solve for Beta Corporation's income in 2000, set the 2000 value as
n, and set up the following equation:
(100% – 13%)
n = $1.74 billion
.87
n = $1.74 billion.
Divide both sides by 0.87 to get
n = $2 billion.
The question asks what percent of Alpha Corporation's 2004 income was Beta Corporation's 2000 income, namely: 2/5.8. Algebraically, this is 2 =
x(5.8).
x = 2/5.8. The correct answer is choice (D).
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Is there an easy wasy to divide by decimals? I approached this question correctly but made an error in the math of muliplying 0.87 by 1.74.