Final answer:
The percent decrease from 144 cm² to 81 cm² is found by subtracting the smaller area from the larger, dividing by the original area, and multiplying by 100 to get about 43.75%.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the percent decrease from 144 cm² to 81 cm², you follow these steps:
- Find the difference in the two values: 144 cm² - 81 cm² = 63 cm².
- Divide the difference by the original value: 63 cm² ÷ 144 cm².
- Convert the resulting fraction to a percent by multiplying by 100: (63 ÷ 144) × 100 %.
Doing the calculation provides a percentage decrease of approximately 43.75%.