In This Discussion Assignment You Will Conduct An Internet S

In This Discussion Assignment You Will Conduct An Internet Search To

In this discussion assignment, you will conduct an Internet search to find several examples of the use of percentages. These can be examples of percentages used in advertising claims, reported results from a study, or information shared by a government agency. In a minimum of 200 words, post to the Discussion Area your response to the following: Find an example of two of the following types of usage of percentages. Use of percentages as a fraction. Remember that this type will use the word of to imply multiplication. Explain whether this was an effective way to represent this information within the context of the example you found. Use of percentages to describe change. In the example you find, determine whether the reported percentage demonstrated absolute or relative change. Show your work. Explain whether this was an effective way to represent this information within the context of the example you found. Use of percentages for comparison. In the example you find, determine whether the reported percentage demonstrated absolute or relative change. Show your work. Explain whether this was an effective way to represent this information within the context of the example you found. Now, find an example of two of the following misuses of percentages. Use of a shifting reference value. In this situation, the base values are changing as differing values of percentages are applied as increases, decreases, or both. Percentage increases, decreases, or both do not have a cumulative effect. Be sure to demonstrate why your example fits this category. Use of percentage to represent less than nothing. Look for an example where you are seeing a reduction of some percentage greater than 100. Be sure to demonstrate why your example fits this category. Situation where the average percentage is reported. In general, you cannot average percentages. The result isn’t representative of what actually has occurred in the situation in question. Be sure to demonstrate why your example fits this category.

Paper For Above instruction

The use of percentages is pervasive in data presentation, advertising, and reporting, but their effectiveness depends on context and proper interpretation. This essay explores two correct applications of percentages—using percentages as a fraction and describing change—and evaluates two common misuses—shifting reference values and averaging percentages—through real-world examples.

Firstly, using percentages as a fraction involves expressing part of a whole relative to total, where "of" implies multiplication. An illustrative example is a health study reporting that "30% of participants smoked cigarettes." This can be interpreted as 30 out of 100, or 30/100, which simplifies to 0.3. This representation is effective because it clearly shows the proportion of the group engaged in a behavior relative to the whole, aiding comprehension. When communicating prevalence or proportions, this fractional use makes the data accessible and straightforward, particularly when the total population is known.

Secondly, percentages are often used to describe change over time. For instance, a company reports that "sales increased by 25% over the previous year." To evaluate whether this is an absolute or relative change, we need the original sales figure. If the initial sales were $100, a 25% increase indicates an increase of $25, making the new total $125. This is a relative change because the percentage is based on the original amount. Relative change provides context-dependent insight, showing how significant the change is compared to the initial value. In this case, expressing a 25% increase effectively communicates growth proportionally, aiding stakeholders in understanding impact.

Moving to misuses, one common error involves the shifting reference value. For example, consider a marketing campaign claiming "customer satisfaction improved by 10% last year," but the base satisfaction score varied each year. One year, the satisfaction was 50%, and it increased to 55%; the next year, it dropped from 55% to 50%. The percentage change depends on the base value, which shifts. This can mislead as the comparison is not between consistent starting points. The cumulative effect of these percentage changes becomes meaningless because the reference point (the base) is not constant, leading to a false impression of continuous improvement.

Another misuse involves reporting reductions greater than 100%. For example, a hospital claims "the mortality rate decreased by 150%," which is mathematically nonsensical because you cannot reduce a rate below zero—an impossibility. This occurs when percentage reductions are overextended, implying a negative mortality rate, which is impossible in realistic terms. The phrase "more than 100%" reduction typically indicates that the claim is misrepresenting the data or is poorly articulated, causing confusion and disbelief. Properly, a 100% reduction would mean eliminating the event entirely, and anything over that does not hold logically.

Lastly, the averaging of percentages also presents significant problems. Suppose two clinics report screening success rates of 80% and 60%. Calculating the average percentage by simply averaging these two figures yields (80% + 60%) / 2 = 70%. However, if the clinics have different patient populations—say, Clinic A serves 200 patients and Clinic B serves 50—the weighted average should be calculated considering the number of patients, resulting in a different overall success rate. The simple average neglects this context, producing a misleading picture of overall performance. This demonstrates that averaging percentages without considering underlying data distributions is invalid and can distort reality.

In conclusion, percentages are a powerful and versatile tool for representing data but require careful application. Using them as fractions and to describe change can be effective when done correctly and with proper context. Conversely, misusing percentages through shifting reference points, overextending reductions, or averaging unweighted percentages can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. Critical evaluation of how percentages are used in any presentation is essential to ensure clarity and accuracy.

References

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