HI, I am having trouble working this problem. This is the question: Two measurements are given. Find the absolute difference and then find the rlative difference as a percentage. Assume that the first quantity is the compared value and the second qualitity is the reference value. Round answers to nearest tenth if necessary. In the college there are 1350 male students and 1010 female students. THe answers I got is 340 for the absolute differnce and .336633663 for the relative differnce. I am not sure if these answers are correct. Please help me.

Answer 1

1350 - 1010 = 340

What base are you using for the relative difference, male or female?

female = 340/1010 = .336633663 = 33.7%

Male = 340/1350 = .25185185 = 25.2%

In terms of their numbers, males are 33.7% more than females, and females are 25.2% less than males.

From their information, they want you to use the females as a base.

Answer 2

It just says that the first quantity is the compared value and the second quantity is the reference value? is that what you mean?

Answer 3

I worked the problem like this. not sure if i am using male or female as the base.

abs diff= 1350-1010=340

relative diff= 1350-1010, divided by 1010=.336633663 or 33.7%.

did i do it the way they problem asks or did i do it backwards? thanks