urgent help

Question

calculate the following

20% of 350

 

12.5% of 800

 

130% of 40

 

0.25% of 75

 

1/4% of 200km

 

5 1/2% of $1000

Answer 1

Hi Kayla,

 

The word "of" ALWAYS means times, or, multiply!

 

And percent means "hundreths"!  

 

You HAVE to change the percent to a decimal.   You just move the decimal in the percent two places left and drop the percent symbol.   In other words:

 

12.5% becomes the number .125

130% becomes the number 1.3

.25% becomes the number .0025

1/4% becomes .25% or the number .0025

5 1/2% becomes 5.5 % or the number .055

 

In summary, a percent is NOT a number (like on a number line).   But you can change it to a number by moving the decimal point two places to the left and dropping the % symbol.   And that is the ONLY number used in calculations dealing with percents. 

 

I know that it's a bit confusing, but always remember that percent means hundredths, or just simply move the decimal point two places left, and drop the %. symbol.