Question

Please look below...the whole question does not fit in this space. (BTW, I had to put a question mark, so here it is...?)

Farmer Fred grows only two crops, watermelons, and pumpkins. Last year, he harvested 400 watermelons and 500 pumpkins. This year, he harvested 20% more watermelons, but 40% fewer pumpkins. Which of the following is the closest to the percent change in Farmer Fred's total harvest from last year to this year?

A: A decrease of 15%
B: A decrease of 13%
C: No Change
D: An increase of 7%

I tried multiplying both of the percent changes, but it couldn't bring me to the answer.

Answer 1

B: A decrease of 13%

Explanation:

Fred's last year harvest of watermelons = 400
This year he had 20% more watermelons
Therefore, This year he had 20% more watermelons = 400 x 1.2
= 480 ....(1)

Fred's last year harvest of pumpkins = 500
This year he had 40% less pumpkins which is to say that he had only 60% of the pumpkins as compared to last year.
Therefore, This year Fred had 60% of pumpkins from last year
= 500 x 0.60 = 300.....(2)

Fred's total produce this year = (1) + (2) = 480+300 = 780
Fred's total produce last year = 400+500 = 900

So, change in Fred's harvest this year as compared to last year
= 900 - 780 = 122
So, % decrease in harvest this year = `(122/900)*100`
= 13.55%