Clarification regarding "percent greater than"

[arpitchauhan]

In Manhattan Practice test 3, I encountered a question. (See snapshot here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/tbk0f5wbzgdoajg/manhattan%20gre%20percent%20greater%20than.png )

The answer to the question depends on how the phrase "percent greater than" is interpreted. What does 150% greater than a number y mean? Does it mean 250% * y, i.e. 2.5 * y OR 150%* y, i.e. 1.5 *y.

I did a quick search in the forums and found that Manhattan GRE Staff member had endorsed the former interpretation, the one I agree with. (150 % greater than means 250% of.) http://www.manhattanprep.com/gre/forums/post37226.html?hilit=percent%20greater%20than&sid=566dd473c0b81788cc0cddf6604519aa&sid=72f61aa2bf81dcfcc120d1bafbfe164f#p37226

BUT, as you can see in the explanation given in GRE Practice test, the interpretation taken to be true is the latter one.

I wonder which one is correct.

[tommywallach]

Hey Arpit,

You are misinterpreting this. There are not multiple definitions. There is one definition, and we are consistent.

Any question that asks about "percent greater" requires you to use the percent change formula: difference/original * 100.

In the example you site (from me!), I said that 70 is 250% greater than 20. Watch the formula:

(70-20)/20 = 50/20

50/20 * 100 = 250

In the other example, we are still using percent change:

(10/6 - 6/10) / (6/10) * 100

There's no difference, I promise! : )

-t