Question

to increase an amount by 17.5% what single multiplier would you use?

Answer 1

Adding 

say 100 +17.5% 

117.5 would be the answer 

Answer 2

You would multiply that number by 1.175

Remember that 17.5%=17.5/100=0.175

I this case, there is a whole number that is increasing by 17.5% so we add a whole to the 17.5%

100%+17.5%=117.5% or 1.175

So if 'x' was the number, the expression would look like:

1.175x