CRITERION #2

ASSIGNMENT #2E

DUE IN SESSION #7

This assignment involves calculating changes from 1990  to 2000. After you complete this assignment, Assignment #2F will require you to write a narrative explaining what the data reveal about the community.

Changes from 1990 to 2000:

After you have filled in the Census data for 2000 and 1990 for Assignments #2A and #2C on the spreadsheet tables, you need to calculate how much each characteristic has changed from 1990 to 2000, both as a number and as a percentage. Keep in mind that there could be an increase (+) or decrease (-) in any characteristic.

For calculating the changes from 1990 to 2000, you work horizontally, line by line. As your baseline for calculating the changes, use the number in 1990 (not the percent) on each line of your tables. You will learn how to enter formulas into the spreadsheet for computing the changes.

However, in order to understand the formulas and check the results on the spreadsheet, it is important to know how to compute the changes using your pocket calculator. Using your calculator, for each line, there are two steps to the process, as follows:

1. Subtract the number in 1990 from the number in 2000. That is, on your calculator:

a. clear the screen;

b. enter the number in 2000;

c. enter the minus (-) sign;

d. enter the number in 1990;

e. press the equal (=) sign;

f. write the answer on your tables in the column labelled "2000-1990 (change) #" if it is negative number (decrease), you must include the minus (-); if it is an positive number, you may include the plus (+) just avoid confusion, but the plus sign is not required;

g. do not clear the answer from the screen; you need it for the next step.

2. Divide the number change from 1990 to 20000 by the number in 1990 and express the result as a percentage. That is, on your calculator:

a. make sure that the answer from step #1 above is on your screen;

b. press the divide (-) sign;

c. enter the number in 1990;

d. press the percent (%) key (do not press the equal key):

e. write the answer on your tables in the column labelled "2000-1990 (change) %"; if it is negative number (decrease), you must include the minus (-); if it is an positive number, you may include the plus (+) just avoid confusion, but the plus sign is not required; include the percent sign with your answer to avoid confusion.

Note 1: if the percentage change you computed in step 2 is minus (a decrease), it cannot be larger than minus 100%; and it can only be minus 100% if the number in 2000 was zero, but the number in 1990 was not zero; for example, if the number of people some category was 50 in 1990, but 0 in 2000, then there was a 100% decrease (i.e., the % change was minus 100%).

Note 2: if the percentage change you computed in step 2 is plus (an increase), it is possible for it to be larger than plus 100%; if a number doubles, say from 100 in 1990 to 200 in 2000, then it has changed (increased) by +100%; if the number triples, say from 100 in 1990 to 300 in 2000, then it has changed (increased) by +200%.

Note 3: if the number in 1990 was zero, then you can compute the number change from 1990 to 2000 (step 2), but cannot compute the percentage change (step 2), because it would mean dividing by zero; if you encounter this type of situation, just put a horizontal line in the % change box.

Note 4: double-check your answers to steps 1 and 2; both the number change and percent change must have the same sign, that is, both must either be negative or positive; also, look to see if the answers make sense, given basic facts in 2000 and 1990 that you are working with.