How do you know if a percent is a decrease or increase?

To determine if a percent represents a decrease or an increase, compare the original value to the new value. If the new value is greater than the original, it indicates a percentage increase. Conversely, if the new value is less than the original, it signifies a percentage decrease. You can also calculate the percent change using the formula: ((\text{New Value} - \text{Original Value}) / \text{Original Value} \times 100), where a positive result indicates an increase and a negative result indicates a decrease.