Question

The number a exceeds the number b by 50% by what percent is the number b smaller than the number a

Answer 1

Number a exceeds the number b by 50%:

$\begin{gathered} a=b+0.5b \\ a=1.5b=\frac{3}{2}b \\ b=\frac{2}{3}a \end{gathered}$

That means, 1/3 smaller=33, 1/3% smaller or 33% smaller.