How to Calculate Percentage Increase Using Word Problems

MatholiaChannel

This educational video provides a clear, step-by-step tutorial on calculating percentage increase through three distinct word problems. It utilizes a consistent and pedagogical methodology: finding the numerical difference between the new and old values, expressing that difference as a fraction of the original value, and then converting that fraction into a percentage. The video employs visual bar models in the initial examples to help students conceptually understand the relationship between the original amount and the increase before moving into abstract numerical calculations. The key themes explored include interpreting word problems, subtraction to find differences, simplifying fractions, and converting fractions to percentages using equivalent fractions with a denominator of 100. The progression of examples—from a bakery scenario to personal savings and finally athletic performance—demonstrates the versatility of this mathematical concept across different real-world contexts. For the classroom, this video is an excellent resource for introducing or reinforcing the concept of percentage change. It models a specific strategy (finding a denominator of 100) that reinforces fraction fluency and number sense, rather than just teaching a formulaic algorithm like "multiply by 100." Teachers can use this to bridge the gap between fractions and percentages and to show students how to structure their working out for multi-step word problems.