2026 AMC 8 Problem 4: Solution

Work through 2026 AMC 8 Problem 4 on percent change with a written solution, hints, and a visual explanation.

AlgebraLevel 1 · Warmup

Brynn's savings decreased by 20% in July, then increased by 50% in August. Brynn's savings are now what percent of the original amount?

  • A. 80
  • B. 90
  • C. 100
  • D. 110
  • E. 120
Hints
  1. Represent each percent change as a multiplier rather than adding or subtracting the percentages directly.
  2. A 20% decrease multiplies the amount by 0.8; a 50% increase multiplies it by 1.5.
  3. Multiply the two factors together, then convert the result to a percent.
Read the step-by-step solution

Answer: E · 120%

  1. Apply percent changes

    Let the original amount be x. After a 20% decrease: 0.8x. After a 50% increase: 0.8x × 1.5 = 1.2x.

    0.8 × 1.5 = 1.2

  2. Convert to percent

    1.2x is 120% of the original amount.

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