1. **Problem 1: Percentage increase in bid** The original bid is 42.99 and the new bid is 45.00. We want to find the percentage increase. Formula: $$\text{Percentage Increase} = \frac{\text{New Value} - \text{Original Value}}{\text{Original Value}} \times 100$$ Calculation: $$\frac{45.00 - 42.99}{42.99} \times 100 = \frac{2.01}{42.99} \times 100$$ Simplify: $$\frac{\cancel{2.01}}{\cancel{42.99}} \times 100 \approx 4.678\%$$ Rounded to one decimal place: **4.7%** 2. **Problem 2: Percentage decrease in bike price** Original price is 279.99, reduced to 229.49. Find percentage decrease. Formula: $$\text{Percentage Decrease} = \frac{\text{Original Value} - \text{New Value}}{\text{Original Value}} \times 100$$ Calculation: $$\frac{279.99 - 229.49}{279.99} \times 100 = \frac{50.50}{279.99} \times 100$$ Simplify: $$\frac{\cancel{50.50}}{\cancel{279.99}} \times 100 \approx 18.04\%$$ Rounded to whole number: **18%** 3. **Problem 3: Original salary before 3% increase** New salary is 25,500 after a 3% increase. Find original salary. Formula: $$\text{New Salary} = \text{Original Salary} \times (1 + \frac{\text{Percentage Increase}}{100})$$ Rearranged: $$\text{Original Salary} = \frac{\text{New Salary}}{1 + \frac{3}{100}} = \frac{25500}{1.03}$$ Calculation: $$\frac{25500}{1.03} \approx 24757.28$$ Rounded to nearest pound: **24757** **Final answers:** 1. 4.7% 2. 18% 3. 24757