Solving Percent Problems (6-5, pg.

346)

To solve percent problems we will use the formula:

P a rt= % ´ W h o le **percent is written as a decimal in the formula

Example: What percent of 90 is 45?

Here we need to identify what we know:

Part = 45
Whole = 90
% = ??

Put these values into the formula:

Part = % ´ Whole
45 = n ´ 90
n = 45 ¸ 90
n = .5
n = 50%

So 45 is 50% of 90.

Example: 12 is 8% of what number?

Identify what we know:

Part = 12
Whole = ??
Percent = 8%

Put these values into the formula:

12 = .08 ´ n
12 ¸ .08 = n
n = 150

So 12 is 8% of 150.

There is a great way to identify the part and the whole in a percent problem.
The Part is usually next to the word is

The Whole is usually next the word of

The Percent is the number with the % (duh)

Example: What percent of 75 is 105?

Find the words is and of and the numbers next to them:

What percent of 75 is 105?

This tells us that the Part is 105 and the Whole is 75, the Percent is unknown.

Use the formula to figure out the percent

Part = % ´ Whole
105 = n ´ 75
n = 105 ¸ 75
n = 1.4
n = 140 %

So 105 is 140% of 75.

Example: 48 is 20% of what number?

48 IS 20% OF WHAT number?

The part is 48.

The whole is unknown
The percent is 20%

Use the formula to find the whole

Part = % ´ Whole
48 = .20 ´ n
n = 48 ¸ .20
n = 240

So 48 is 20% of 240.