Problem 76 - Fundamentals of Mathematics

Question

In Wichita, Kansas, the sun shines about \(74 \%\) of the time in July and about \(59 \%\) of the time in November. How much more of the time (in percent) does the sun shine in July than in November?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The sun shines 15% more of the time in July than in November.

Step 1: Identify Given Percentages

We are given that the sun shines 74% of the time in July and 59% of the time in November. Our task is to find how much more the sun shines in July compared to November.

Step 2: Calculate the Difference

Subtract the percentage of time the sun shines in November from the percentage of time it shines in July to find the difference: \[ 74\% - 59\% = 15\% \]

Step 3: Interpret the Result

The result of 15% means that the sun shines 15% more of the time in July compared to November in Wichita, Kansas.

Key Concepts

Understanding Percentages

Percentage is a way to express a number as a fraction of 100. In simple terms, it helps us understand proportions of a whole.
For example, saying that the sun shines 74% of the time means that if you divide all of July's daylight hours into 100 equal parts, the sun would be shining during 74 of those parts.
Similarly, 59% of the time for November indicates that out of every similar division of daylight hours, the sun shines for 59 parts.
This method of describing quantities is very useful because it provides a uniform way to compare different things.

• Always expressed as "X percent" or "X%"
• Helps to understand the relative size or importance of one number in relation to another

Whenever we talk about percentage differences, we're essentially examining how one percentage compares with another, as we did in our exercise with July and November.

Using Subtraction to Find Differences

Subtraction is a basic arithmetic operation that means taking away a certain number from another number. It helps us find the difference between two values.
In the context of our problem, we are subtracting November's percentage (\(59\%\)) from July's percentage (\(74\%\)) to find out how much more the sun shines in July.
The calculation is: \[ 74\% - 59\% = 15\% \]
This operation tells us that the sun shines 15% more in July compared to November.

• Essential for determining how much more or less one value is compared to another
• Used in everyday calculations like finding out savings, expenses differences, etc.

Subtraction helps measure and clarify comparisons across many different scenarios.

Interpreting the Results

The last step is often the most important: interpreting what the numbers we've calculated actually mean in a real-world context.
Our result, 15%, indicates an increase in the amount of time the sun shines in Wichita, Kansas, from November to July.
This information can help a wide range of people, from those planning to move, travel, or even plan activities that depend on sunlight.

• Provides context and meaning to numerical data
• Helps in decision-making and planning

Understanding what the difference signifies is crucial, whether it's regarding weather patterns, economic data, or any other important metric.
It goes beyond mere numbers and touches upon how those numbers affect our lives. Interpreting results allows us to draw conclusions and make informed decisions based on the data.