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backpack — percentage decrease
The price of a backpack falls from $400 to $300. Find the percentage decrease.
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25% decrease
The pattern behind it: Percentage change
Compare how much an amount changed with its original value.
In this one. The original price is the reference whole. Dividing by the reduced price would answer a different question.
How to spot it
A quantity falls or rises from one stated figure to another, and the question asks for the percentage change. Words like 'decrease' and 'original price' give it away.
Common mistake
Children divide the drop by the new, lower price instead of the original price, which inflates the percentage they report.
Try one like it
Standard jacket — percentage decrease The price of a jacket falls from $240 to $192. Find the percentage decrease.The 33 problem patterns
All 33 patterns, one to a page — the 19 behind Primary 5 and 6 word problems, and the skills the younger years are built on. The bar model, how to spot it in the question, and the mistake children make. A booklet you can print. Free.
A PDF, and a note when new solutions go up.