results of operations and the estimated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities are recorded in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition . pro forma results of operations for the business combinations completed during fiscal 2016 have not been presented because the effects of these acquisitions , individually and in the aggregate , would not have been material to cadence 2019s financial results . the fair values of acquired intangible assets and assumed liabilities were determined using significant inputs that are not observable in the market . for an additional description of these fair value calculations , see note 16 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements . a trust for the benefit of the children of lip-bu tan , cadence 2019s president , chief executive officer , or ceo , and director , owned less than 2% ( 2 % ) of rocketick technologies ltd. , one of the acquired companies , and mr . tan and his wife serve as co-trustees of the trust and disclaim pecuniary and economic interest in the trust . the board of directors of cadence reviewed the transaction and concluded that it was in the best interests of cadence to proceed with the transaction . mr . tan recused himself from the board of directors 2019 discussion of the valuation of rocketick technologies ltd . and on whether to proceed with the transaction . a financial advisor provided a fairness opinion to cadence in connection with the transaction . 2014 acquisitions during fiscal 2014 , cadence acquired jasper design automation , inc. , or jasper , a privately held provider of formal analysis solutions based in mountain view , california . the acquired technology complements cadence 2019s existing system design and verification platforms . total cash consideration for jasper , after taking into account adjustments for certain costs , and cash held by jasper at closing of $ 28.7 million , was $ 139.4 million . cadence will also make payments to certain employees through the third quarter of fiscal 2017 subject to continued employment and other conditions . cadence also completed two other business combinations during fiscal 2014 for total cash consideration of $ 27.5 million , after taking into account cash acquired of $ 2.1 million . acquisition-related transaction costs transaction costs associated with acquisitions were $ 1.1 million , $ 0.7 million and $ 3.7 million during fiscal 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively . these costs consist of professional fees and administrative costs and were expensed as incurred in cadence 2019s consolidated income statements . note 8 . goodwill and acquired intangibles goodwill the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during fiscal 2016 and 2015 were as follows : gross carrying amount ( in thousands ) .

gross carryingamount ( in thousands ): balance as of january 3 2015: 553767
effect of foreign currency translation: -2587
balance as of january 2 2016: 551772
goodwill resulting from acquisitions: 23579
balance as of december 31 2016: 572764

cadence completed its annual goodwill impairment test during the third quarter of fiscal 2016 and determined that the fair value of cadence 2019s single reporting unit substantially exceeded the carrying amount of its net assets and that no impairment existed. .

Questions:
what was the difference in gross carrying amount between the beginning of 2015 and the end of 2016?
what was the gross carrying amount at the end of 2016?
what is the percent change of the gross carrying amount between the beginning of 2015 and the end of 2016?

Answers:
18997
553767
3.4%