Which product shows the maximum percentage increase in price from 2000 to 2006?

Concept

Percentage increase compares the change with the initial value, not with the final value.

For an initial price I and a final price F, percentage increase = ((F - I) / I) × 100. Compute this percentage separately for every product before comparing them.

Application

1. Saw timber: I = 10 and F = 18. Therefore, ((18 - 10) / 10) × 100 = (8 / 10) × 100 = 80%.

2. Plywood: I = 3 and F = 7. Therefore, ((7 - 3) / 3) × 100 = (4 / 3) × 100 ≈ 133.33%.

3. Logs: I = 18 and F = 21. Therefore, ((21 - 18) / 18) × 100 = (3 / 18) × 100 ≈ 16.67%.

Cross-check

The final-to-initial multipliers are 1.8 for saw timber, 7/3 ≈ 2.33 for plywood, and 21/18 ≈ 1.17 for logs. The largest multiplier gives the largest percentage increase, confirming plywood.

Hence, plywood shows the maximum percentage increase in price from 2000 to 2006.