What is 15% of $80

Question

What is 15% of $80?

Answer 1

Laura, the word "of" means to multiply. 15% = 15/100 = .15

 

80(.15) = 12

 

Hope this helps!

 

Answer 2

Answer: $12.

 

Explanation with calculator:

 

To work with percentages in math, you move the decimal place over two digits to the left, and that leaves you with a decimal that you can multiply other numbers by and get the percentage of that number you're looking for. So:

 

Step 1: 15% becomes .15 because 15% can be written as 15.0%. So when you move the decimal over to the left two digits, you get .15.

 

Step2: Multiply the decimal version of the percentage, attained from the previous step, by the dollar amount you want that percentage of. So ---> .15 x $80 = $12 <-- your answer. 

 

Explanation without a calculator:

 

Not as hard as you think! More like a few tricks. 

 

Trick 1: 15% can be broken up into 10% and 5% ... bare with me.

Trick 2: You can get 10% of any number by moving it's decimal over one to the left. So for $80 (or $80.0), that's $8. (Also just dividing by 10). 

Trick 3: If 10% of $80 is $8, then 5% would be half of $8... $4! 

 

Now just add them together. $8 + $4 = $12 (just like 10% + 5% = 15%).

 

Hope that helps. With a few rounds of practice it'll come easier. 

 

Yours,

Sean