percent of students

Question

at a community college, 2000 incoming freshmen are enrolled in basic college mathematics. if this is 16% of the total students, how many students attend this community college?

Answer 1

The equation used for this is as follows:

 

2000/x = .16 

 

2000/.16 = x 

 

x = 12,500

Answer 2

When dealing with percentages you are always dealing with something(x) of something else(y) equivalent to percentage over 100.

 

x/y = %/100

 

so in this circumstance we have:

 

16% of___ is 2000.  The "of" is missing, so your equation would be:

 

y = "of"

 

2000/y = 16/100

 

Cross multiply and you get

 

16*y = 2000 * 100

 

16y = 200,000

 

y = 200,000 / 16

 

y = 12,500

 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  Shane