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Example: Finding the Percent Increase in Deductible Mileage

Problem: In 2011, the IRS increased the deductible mileage cost to 55.5 cents from 51 cents. Find the percent change, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent.

  1. Find the amount of change: Subtract the original amount from the new amount: 55.551=4.555.5 - 51 = 4.5.
  2. Find the percent: The amount of change is what percent of the original amount? Let pp = the percent. Translate "4.5 is what percent of 51?" into the equation: 4.5=p×514.5 = p \times 51.
  3. Solve: Divide both sides by 51 to get p0.0882p \approx 0.0882.
  4. Convert to percent form and round to the nearest tenth: p8.8%p \approx 8.8\%.

The percent change is an 8.8% increase.

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Updated 2026-06-27

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