Question

The depth of a river went from 64 feet to 56 feet. What was the percent of decrease in the water depth?

Answer 1

To answer the question above, determine first the decrease in the depth and then divide by the initial depth. Multiply the quotient by 100%. This is shown below.
 
            % decrease in water depth = ((64 - 56) / 64) x 100% = 12.5%

Thus, the water depth is decreased by 12.5%.