1. What is Growth and Decay Percentage?

Growth and decay percentage calculations help us understand how things increase or decrease over time. This is used in many real-life situations like calculating savings growth, population changes, or radioactive decay in science.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the growth and decay formula:

Where:

• \( Initial \) — Starting value or amount
• \( r \) — Growth/decay rate as a decimal (positive for growth, negative for decay)
• \( t \) — Number of time periods

Explanation: The formula shows how an initial amount changes over time when it grows or decays at a constant percentage rate each period.

3. Importance of Growth and Decay Calculation

Details: Understanding growth and decay helps kids learn about percentages, exponents, and how things change over time in math, science, and everyday life.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the initial value, the rate as a decimal (0.05 for 5% growth, -0.03 for 3% decay), and the number of time periods. All values must be valid numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between growth and decay?
A: Growth means the value increases over time (positive rate), while decay means the value decreases over time (negative rate).

Q2: How do I convert a percentage to a decimal?
A: Divide the percentage by 100. For example, 25% becomes 0.25, and 5% decay becomes -0.05.

Q3: Can this calculator handle fractions of periods?
A: The calculator uses whole number periods. For fractional periods, more advanced math is needed.

Q4: What are some real-life examples of growth and decay?
A: Savings account interest (growth), radioactive material (decay), population changes, and bacteria growth.

Q5: Why is this important for kids to learn?
A: It helps develop mathematical thinking and understanding of how percentages work in real-world situations.