Now let's learn to solve word problems that involve percents. You can easily turn simple percent word problems into number problems. Just remember that the word "of" tells you to multiply.
Start with this word problem:
What number does 80% of 19 equal?
Remember, "of" always means you must multiply: 80% of 19 is 80% times 19 (80% ´ 19). What number does 80% times 19 equal? Put a blank for "what number."
80% x 19 =
Before you can work this problem, change the percent number. You can change it into a fraction or into a decimal number. A decimal will be easier to work with. What decimal number equals 80%? The decimal number is 80 hundredths (.80).
.80 x 19=
Now multiply 80 hundredths times 19 (.80 ´ 19). The answer is 15 and 2 tenths (15.2). So 80% of 19 equals 15.2. The column equation looks like this:
Try a new problem.
What number is 42% of 30?
Here's the equation:
42% x 30 =
Here's the equation with the percent written as a decimal number:
.42 x 30 =
And here's the answer:
