proportion and percent

Question

Use a proportion to set up and solve the following problem. Round your answer to the nearest

tenth if necessary.

5) A bird bath that is 2.6 ft tall casts a

shadow that is 8.6 ft long. Find the length

of the shadow that a 6.4 ft baby giraffe

casts.

Set up and solve an equation to answer the question below. Round your answer to the nearest

tenth of a percent if necessary.

6) What percent of 132 is 81?

Answer 1

1. the proportion here is 2.6ft is to 8.6ft as 6.4ft is to x, which is written as 2.6ft : 8.6ft :: 6.4ft : x

 

2.6ft / 8.6ft = 6.4ft / x ; so x = (8.6ft • 6.4ft) / 2.6ft = 21.2ft

 

2. expressed in other terms, this question is "how much of 132 is 81"?

the term "percent of" means division, so x = (81 / 132) • 100%

x = 0.614 • 100%

x = 61.4%