Which amount is larger and by how much? A positive number a or the same number a increased by 50% and then decreased by 50% of the result?

The original positive number will be more.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to find this, we can first call the original positive number a. Now to find how much it would be when we add 50% of that, we can create the following equation.

a +.5a = 1.5a

Now we need to take 50% of that result. To do that, we can multiply by. 5.

1.5a *.5 =.75a

Since the end result of the adding and subtracting 50% is. 75a, we know that it is less than the original number.