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Calculating Proportions- Determining What Percent One Number Constitutes of Another

What percent is one number of another? This question is often encountered in various real-life scenarios, such as calculating the percentage of a discount, determining the proportion of a population, or assessing the contribution of a particular element to a whole. Understanding how to calculate the percentage of one number relative to another is essential for making informed decisions and comparisons. In this article, we will explore the concept of percentage and provide a step-by-step guide on how to determine what percent one number is of another.

The percentage is a way to express a number as a fraction of 100. It is often used to compare two quantities or to indicate the proportion of a whole. To calculate what percent one number is of another, you can follow these simple steps:

1. Identify the number you want to find the percentage of (let’s call it “X”) and the number you want to compare it to (let’s call it “Y”).

2. Divide X by Y to find the decimal equivalent of the percentage.

3. Multiply the decimal by 100 to convert it to a percentage.

4. Round the result to the desired number of decimal places.

For example, let’s say you want to find out what percent 75 is of 150.

1. X = 75, Y = 150
2. 75 / 150 = 0.5
3. 0.5 100 = 50
4. The result is 50%, which means that 75 is 50% of 150.

This method can be applied to various scenarios, such as:

– Calculating a discount: If an item is discounted by 20%, you can find out the discounted price by multiplying the original price by 80% (or 0.8).
– Determining the percentage of a population: If there are 300 people in a city, and 150 of them are women, the percentage of women in the city is 50%.
– Assessing the contribution of an element to a whole: If a company’s revenue is $1 million, and $200,000 of that revenue comes from online sales, the percentage of online sales is 20%.

In conclusion, understanding how to calculate what percent one number is of another is a valuable skill that can be applied in various aspects of life. By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can easily determine the percentage of one number relative to another and make informed decisions based on the results.

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