Try the following SAT math practice question (Calculator permitted) that tests your understanding of percentage change.
The price of a share of stock $X$ increased by $25\%$ from $2010$ to $2012$ and then decreased by $15\%$ from $2012$ to $2014$. If the price of a share of stock $X$ was $\$84$ in $\underline{2012}$, what was the change in the price of a share of stock $X$ from $2010$ to $2014$?
- $\quad \textrm{Increase of $\$4.20$}$
- $\quad \textrm{Decrease of $\$4.20$}$
- $\quad \textrm{Increase of $\$8.40$}$
- $\quad \textrm{Decrease of $\$8.40$}$
It was 80 percent in 2010 and 85 percent in 2014. Hence it increased by 5 percent. 84/20 = 4.20! Direct solution.
Absolutely correct!