The length of a rectangle is halved, while its breadth is tripled. What is the percentage change in area?

• A. 75% decrease
• B. 50% increase
• C. 25% increase
• D. 50% decrease

Answer: (B)

Let original length = x and original breadth = y. Original area = xy. New length = x . 2 New breadth = 3y. New area = ❨ x x 3y ❩ = 3 xy. 2 2 ∴ Increase % = ❨ 1 xy x 1 x 100 ❩% = 50%