How to Calculate Percent Increase Step-by-Step

Math with Mr. J

This concise instructional video guides viewers through the mathematical process of calculating percent increase. Using a clear blackboard style, the instructor, Mr. J, demonstrates the specific formula for finding percent change: subtracting the original value from the new value, dividing by the original value, and then multiplying by 100. The video focuses on a single concrete example where a value rises from 16 to 28, allowing for a focused step-by-step walkthrough of the calculation. The video explores key mathematical themes including the order of operations for percent change formulas, decimal-to-percent conversion, and the importance of identifying the correct denominator (the original value). It explicitly distinguishes between percent increase and decrease based on whether the difference is positive or negative, though this specific example yields a positive result. The visual demonstration includes handwriting the math steps in real-time, reinforcing the procedural flow. For educators, this video serves as an excellent direct instruction tool or review resource for units on Ratios and Proportional Relationships. It effectively breaks down a multi-step process that often confuses students—specifically which number to divide by. Teachers can use this to flip the classroom, support struggling learners with a repeatable model, or anchor a lesson on financial literacy (markups) or data analysis (population growth).