Question

The following line graph shows the total sales (in thousands) of a store over four consecutive quarters. By what percentage did the sales increase from Q1 to Q4?

Hint:

When a quantity doubles, the percentage increase is always 100%. Recognizing this pattern can save you calculation time. Here, the sales went from 100 to 200, which is a doubling.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the percentage increase in sales from the first quarter (Q1) to the fourth quarter (Q4). This measures the relative change in sales compared to the initial sales figure.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
The formula for percentage increase is:
\[ \text{Percentage Increase} = \left( \frac{\text{Final Value} - \text{Initial Value}}{\text{Initial Value}} \right) \times 100% \]
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
From the table, we identify the initial and final values:
Initial Value (Q1 Sales) = 100 (in thousands).
Final Value (Q4 Sales) = 200 (in thousands).
First, calculate the increase in sales:
\[ \text{Increase} = \text{Final Value} - \text{Initial Value} = 200 - 100 = 100 \]
Now, apply the percentage increase formula:
\[ \text{Percentage Increase} = \left( \frac{100}{100} \right) \times 100% \]
\[ \text{Percentage Increase} = 1 \times 100% = 100% \]
Step 4: Final Answer:
The sales increased by 100% from Q1 to Q4.