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OBJECTIVES
1. Find the unknown amount in a percent problem
2. Find the unknown rate in a percent problem
3. Find the unknown base in a percent problem
From your work in Section 6.3, you may have observed that there are three basic types of
percent problems. These depend on which of the three partsthe amount, the rate, or the
baseis missing in the problem statement. The solution for each type of problem depends
on the percent relationship.
Percent Relationship
We will illustrate the solution of each type of problem in the following examples. Lets start
with a problem in which we want to find the amount.
Example 1
Finding an Unknown Amount
NOTE Type 1: Finding an
unknown amount.
54
So 54 is 18% of 300.
CHECK YOURSELF 1
2001 McGraw-Hill Companies
1. If the rate is less than 100%, the amount will be less than the base.
20 is 40% of 50
and
20 50
2. If the rate is greater than 100%, the amount will be greater than the base.
75 is 150% of 50
and
75 50
495
496
CHAPTER 6
PERCENTS
Example 2
Finding an Unknown Percent
NOTE Type 2: Finding an
unknown percent.
Rate 150 30
NOTE This will leave the rate
alone on the left.
30
1
1
0.20 20
20%
150
5
100
30 is 20% of 150.
CHECK YOURSELF 2
75 is what percent of 300?
1. If the amount is less than the base, the rate will be less than 100%.
2. If the amount is greater than the base, the rate will be greater than 100%.
Example 3
Finding an Unknown Base
NOTE Type 3: Finding an
unknown base.
Amount
0.40 base 28
written as 0.40.
Base
28
70
0.40
So 28 is 40% of 70.
CHECK YOURSELF 3
70 is 35% of what number?
SECTION 6.4
497
We have now seen solution methods for the three basic types of percent problems: finding the amount, the rate, and the base. As you will see in the remainder of this section, our
work in Chapter 5 with proportions will allow us to solve each type of problem in an identical fashion. In fact, many students find percent problems easier to approach with the
proportion method.
First, we will write what is called the percent proportion.
Amount
R
Base
100
In symbols,
R
NOTE On the right,
is the
100
rate, and this proportion is
equivalent to our earlier
percent relationship.
R
A
B
100
Because in any percent problem we know two of the three quantities (A, B, or R), we can
always solve for the unknown term. Consider in Example 4 the use of the percent proportion.
Example 4
Solving a Problem Involving an Unknown Amount
NOTE This is an unknown-
amount problem.
B
We solve the proportion with the methods of Section 5.4.
100A 150 30
100A 4500
Divide by the coefficient, 100.
4500
100 A
100
100
1
A 45
The amount is 45. This means that 45 is 30% of 150.
CHECK YOURSELF 4
Use the percent proportion to answer this question: What is 24% of 300?
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CHAPTER 6
PERCENTS
The same percent proportion will work if you want to find the rate.
Example 5
Solving a Problem Involving an Unknown Rate
NOTE This is an unknown-rate
problem.
B
Solving, we get
400R 7200
1
400R
7200
400
400
1
R 18
The rate is 18%. So 18% of 400 is 72.
CHECK YOURSELF 5
Use the percent proportion to answer this question: What percent of 50 is 12.5?
problem.
Solving gives
40B 200 100
1
20,000
40B
40
40
1
B 500
The base is 500, and 40% of 500 is 200.
SECTION 6.4
499
Example 7
Solving a Percent Problem
NOTE The rate is 125%. The
base is 300.
37,500
375
100
Example 8
Solving a Percent Problem
34 is 8.5% of what number?
Using the percent proportion yields
NOTE The amount is 34, the
rate is 8.5%. We want to find
the base.
34
8.5
B
100
Solving, we have
8.5B 34 100
or
NOTE Divide by 8.5.
B
3400
400
8.5
So 34 is 8.5% of 400.
CHECK YOURSELF 8
12.5% of what number is 75?
CHAPTER 6
PERCENTS
Example 9
Estimating Percentages
Find 19.3% of 500.
1
. An estimate of the amount is then
5
1
500 100
5
Rounded rate
Base
Estimate of amount
CHECK YOURSELF 9
Estimate the amount.
20.2% of 800
2. 25%
R
3. 200
5. A
A
24
300
100
12.5
R
50
100
100A 7200; A 72
6. A
7. 750
8. 600
9. 160
288
60
B
100
60B 28,800; B 480
500
Name
6.4 Exercises
Section
Date
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
ANSWERS
1
4
34.
35.
36.
3
4
37.
38.
39.
40.
ANSWERS
41.
42.
1
2
is 46.
43.
45. 58.5 is 13% of what number?
45.
46.
47.
44.
48.
49.
50.
55. It is customary when eating in a restaurant to leave a 15% tip.
51.
(a) Outline a method to do a quick approximation for the amount of tip to leave.
(b) Use this method to figure a 15% tip on a bill of $47.76.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
56. The dean of Enrollment Management at a college states, Last year was not a good year.
Answers
1. 210
15. 500
27. 500
2
3
51. 450
39. 66 %
502
3. 90
5. 1000
7. 8%
9. 9%
11. 170%
13. 575
17. 450
19. 880
21. 4320
23. 175%
25. 400%
29. 850
31. 25.5
33. 705
35. 157.5
37. 7.5%
41. 62.5%
53. 600
43. 4000
55.
45. 450
47. 2600
49. 1000
Our enrollments were down 25%. But this year we increased our enrollment by 30% over
last year. I think we have turned the corner. Evaluate the deans analysis.