Question

The projected number of employed writers and authors in 2016 is 153,000. 12.4% of those will have some college experience but no degree, and 84.1% will have a bachelor’s degree or higher. If this holds true, how many more writers and authors with bachelor’s degree will there be than those with only some college experience and no degree?

Answer 1

12.4% of 153,000 : some college, no degree
0.124(153,000) = 18,972

84.1% of 153,000 : bachelor's degree or higher
0.841(153,000) = 128,673

128,673 - 18,972 = 109,701 <== 

Answer 2

1. Count 12.4% of 153,000:

153,000 - 100%,

x - 12.4%

Mathematically, you can write proportion:

$\dfrac{153,000}{x}=\dfrac{100}{12.4},\\ \\x=\dfrac{153,000\cdot 12.4}{100}=18,972.$

2. Count 84.1% of 153,000:

153,000 - 100%,

y - 84.1%

Mathematically, you can write proportion:

$\dfrac{153,000}{y}=\dfrac{100}{84.1},\\ \\x=\dfrac{153,000\cdot 84.1}{100}=128,673.$

3. There will be 128,673 writers and authors with bachelor’s degree and 18,972 writers and authors with some college experience and no degree. Then the difference is

128,673-18,972=109,701.

Answer: writers and authors with bachelor’s degree will be there 109,701 more than those with only some college experience and no degree