Annual student fees at the University of California rose from about $4,000 in the year 2000 to about $12,000 in 2010. Find the percent increase.

200%

Step-by-step explanation:

We are asked to find the percent increase in student fees. The amount of increase in student fees is given by

final amount − initial amount = increase

12,000 − 4,000 = 8,000

We can now find the percent increase by finding what percent the amount of increase is of the initial amount. In other words, we want to find what percent 8,000 is ... of 4,000.

Let p be the percent. The question can be translated into an equation.

8,000  {is}  {what percent}     {of}  4,000

8,000  {=}   {          P          }     {x}   4,000

To solve for p, we can now divide each side by 4,000 and simplify.

8,000 = 4,000p

p=2

To convert p to a percent, multiply 2 by 100.

2 x 100

=200%

It follows that the percent increase in student fees was 200%.