I'm totally confused, we were doing a question in class and there are two answers but I'm not sure why one works and the other one doesn't.
For example; there are 6000 pandas now and over 10 years they have decreased by 40%. How many pandas were there 10 years ago? There are two methods that I have found.
Method 1. 10% of 6000 is 600 x 4 = 2400 + 6000 = 8400 pandas.
Method 2. 6000 = 60% devide by 3 = 2000 x 5 = 10000 pandas.
Then though 40% of 8400 is 3360 which if you take off 8400 isn't 6000.
But if you use method two it works.
Why is this? I mean how come one method works and the other doesn't?
I know this is pretty easy but I just really want to know, thanks.