Question

A client's weight increased from \(120 \mathrm{lb}\) to \(132 \mathrm{lb}\). What was the percent of increase in body weight?

Short answer

The percent increase in weight is 10%.

Step-by-step solution

Determine the Weight Increase

First, find the increase in weight by subtracting the original weight from the new weight. Original weight = 120 lb New weight = 132 lb Increase in weight = 132 lb - 120 lb = 12 lb.

Calculate the Percent Increase

Next, determine the percent increase by dividing the increase in weight by the original weight. Then multiply by 100 to convert it into a percentage. Percent Increase = \( \left( \frac{12}{120} \right) \times 100 \% = 10\% \)

Conclusion

The percent increase in body weight is 10%. Therefore, the client's weight increased by 10% from 120 lb to 132 lb.

Key concepts

Weight Calculations

Understanding weight calculations is pivotal for grasping problems that involve determining weight changes and percentages. In this context, we deal with a situation where a client's body weight increased from 120 pounds to 132 pounds.
First, we need to calculate the increase in weight, which involves basic subtraction.

• The original weight of the client is 120 lb.
• The new weight after the increase is 132 lb.
• Subtract the original weight from the new weight: 132 lb - 120 lb = 12 lb.

This calculation shows that the client's weight has increased by 12 pounds. By understanding these simple arithmetic operations, students can easily handle real-life scenarios involving weight changes.
Using fundamental math skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in weight calculations forms the base of handling more complicated mathematical challenges in everyday life.

Mathematics Education

Mathematics education provides essential skills that aid in problem-solving and logical thinking. In the context of percentage increase calculations, having a strong grasp of math fundamentals is vital.
Education in mathematics helps students to:

• Develop critical thinking skills by engaging with real-world problems.
• Strengthen numerical literacy, such as understanding decimals, fractions, and percentages.
• Apply mathematical concepts to everyday situations, which is crucial for personal and professional success.

Specifically, understanding how to calculate percentage increases allows students to analyze changes in quantities. This is an important skill not only in academic settings but also in financial decision-making, health monitoring, and statistical analysis.
By focusing on mathematics education, learners can effectively interpret data, make informed decisions, and solve problems more efficiently.

Problem-Solving Steps

Effective problem-solving is a crucial skill that can be honed through structured approaches. In the context of determining the percentage increase, the problem-solving process can be broken down into clear steps.
Let's walk through the steps to solve the given problem:

• Step 1: Identify the known variables - original weight (120 lb) and new weight (132 lb). Calculate the increase in weight by subtracting the original weight from the new weight.
• Step 2: Convert the increase in weight into a percentage. Divide the weight increase by the original weight to find the proportion of increase, then multiply by 100 to get the percent increase: \( \left(\frac{12}{120}\right) \times 100\% = 10\% \).
• Step 3: Validate the solution by reviewing if the steps and math have been correctly applied.

By following these steps, students can streamline their approach to solving similar problems.
Emphasizing clear, methodical steps assists in making complex problems more manageable and enhances overall problem-solving capability.