Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Mathematics/2016 April 9

= April 9 =

percentages
Can I have an easy explanation for the following...Percentages. Example here.

If I want to calculate say, how much is the pecentage of two numbers i.e what percentage of 400 is against 1400 I get 28.5%. I did this by dividing 400/1400 and moving the decimal places two positions forward.

Ok that's fine. But what if I wanted to know what 40 percent of 6000 was. I'm missing one number already as per example (400) so I've got nothing to start with against the 6000. So it's x/6000.

Am I making this too complicated? looking for a really simple answer to this one. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.35.190.215 (talk) 11:12, 9 April 2016 (UTC)


 * 1% of an amount is just 1 hundredth of that amount. So 40% of 6000 is 6000/100 (to get 1%), times 40; 60 x 40 = 2400.  Rojomoke (talk) 11:19, 9 April 2016 (UTC)

just remember that percent written in decimal form is, for example 0.40 (0.40=40%)...and percent OF something is multiplication (of=multiplication)...so 0.40 X 6000 = 2400 is a translation of "40% of 6000 is 2400."68.48.241.158 (talk) 12:53, 9 April 2016 (UTC)


 * just thinking (if you're still around): the general equation you're referencing is: percent/100=part/whole...and then just plug in what numbers you have, solve with "cross multiplication"...68.48.241.158 (talk) 13:24, 10 April 2016 (UTC)


 * And, if you are using a basic calculator, the "%" button usually is like typing in "/ 100 =". So, you would type in "6000 × 40 %" to get your answer. StuRat (talk) 14:02, 10 April 2016 (UTC)