<p>
Neither interpretation is accurate. In fact, my hope was that the OP (or other interested parties) would be challenged to play with the numbers and to figure out for themselves how percent differences are calculated. Or at least to consider the problem as an exercise in Internet research. </p>
<p>If these approaches seem unrealistically difficult, then yes, I can simply post the formula for calculating the percent difference between two numbers. It’s just not in the LAC spirit to do it that way; one of the traditional goals of liberal arts colleges is to prepare students to think and learn on their own.</p>