In 2023, a facility used electricity for Process A and Process B. In 2024, the electricity used for Process A was 20% greater than in 2023, and the electricity used for Process B was 15% less than in 2023. The facility's total electricity use in 2024 was 6% greater than its total electricity use in 2023.
In 2025, the electricity used for Process A was 10% less than in 2024, and the electricity used for Process B was 20% greater than in 2024. The facility used a total of 10,560 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2025. How many megawatt-hours of electricity did the facility use for Process B in 2023?
For multi-year percentage questions, define variables for the original amounts and convert every percentage change into a decimal multiplier. Use the statement about the total change to find a relationship between the original categories before applying later changes. This avoids incorrectly combining percentage changes that are based on different yearly amounts.
Hints
Use multipliers
A 20% increase corresponds to multiplying by , and a 15% decrease corresponds to multiplying by .
Compare totals in 2024
If the 2023 amounts are and , write one equation for the 2024 total using both the individual changes and the 6% total increase.
Keep each year's percent change separate
The 2025 changes are based on the 2024 amounts, not directly on the 2023 amounts. Apply each new multiplier to the appropriate 2024 expression.
Desmos Guide
Use algebra first
Algebra is faster because the 2024 total condition first gives the relationship between the 2023 process amounts.
Graph the final equation
After substituting into the 2025 total, enter and . Click their intersection. The -coordinate represents the 2023 electricity use for Process B.
Step-by-step Explanation
Represent the 2023 amounts
Let be the electricity used for Process A in 2023 and let be the electricity used for Process B in 2023.
Use the 2024 total change
In 2024, the two process amounts were and . Because the total was 6% greater than the 2023 total, .
Subtracting gives , so .
Apply the 2025 changes
The 2025 amount for Process A was , and the 2025 amount for Process B was .
Thus, . Substitute :
, so .