A table of the US minimum wage for 6 different years is shown below. Year US minimum wage (dollars per hour) --- --- 1960 1.00 1970 1.60 1980 3.10 1990 3.80 2000 5.15 2010 7.25 What was the percent increase of the minimum wage from 1960 to 1970?

What was the percent increase of the minimum wage from 1960 to 1970? | SAT Percentages Practice

Year	US minimum wage (dollars per hour)
1960	1.00
1970	1.60
1980	3.10
1990	3.80
2000	5.15
2010	7.25

Choice B is correct. According to the table, the minimum wage in $1960$ was $ $100$ per hour, and in $1970$ it was $ $1.60$ per hour. The percentage change is therefore $100(\dfrac{1.60-1.00}{1.00}) = 60$ %

Choice A is incorrect and may result from averaging the two wages before calculating the percentage change.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the $1960$ wage expressed as a percentage of the $1970$ wage, not the percentage change between the two. Choice D is incorrect and may result from a calculation error.

Question Bank

Question Bank

SAT Percentages practice question

Explanation