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3.10: Percent Equations

Difficulty Level: Basic Created by: CK-12
Atoms Practice
Practice Percent Equations
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Suppose that there was an article in your school newspaper that said that 80% of the students in your school plan on attending the prom. It also said that 500 students in your school plan on attending the prom. Would you be able to tell from this information how many students there are in your school? In this Concept, you'll learn how to solve equations involving percentages so that you can determine information such as this.

Watch This

For more help with percent equations, watch this 4-minute video recorded by Ken’s MathWorld. How to Solve Percent Equations (4:10)


Now that you remember how to convert between decimals and percents, you are ready for the percent equation :

part = \% \ rate \times base

The key words in a percent equation will help you translate it into a correct algebraic equation. Remember the equal sign symbolizes the word “is” and the multiplication symbol symbolizes the word “of.”

Example A

Find 30% of 85.

Solution: You are asked to find the part of 85 that is 30%. First, translate into an equation:

n=30\% \times 85

Convert the percent to a decimal and simplify:

n & =0.30 \times 85 \\n & =25.5

Example B

A dime is worth what percent of a dollar?


Since a dime is 10 cents and a dollar is 100 cents, we can set up the following equation:


Example C

50 is 15% of what number?

Solution: Translate into an equation:

50 = 15\% \times w

Rewrite the percent as a decimal and solve:

50 & = 0.15 \times w \\\frac{50}{0.15} & = \frac{0.15 \times w}{0.15} \\333 \frac{1}{3} & = w

Guided Practice

6 is 2% of what number?


First, use the percent equation:

6=2% \times n

We can also use the fractional form of a percentage. Substitute in \frac{2}{100} for 2%, since they are equivalent expressions:

 & 6= \frac{2}{100} \times n\\&\frac{100}{2}\times 6=\frac{100}{2} \times \frac{2}{100} \times n\\&\frac{600}{2}= n\\& 300 = n\\

6 is 2% of 300.



Answer the following.

  1. 32% of 600 is what number?
  2. 50% of $9.00 is what number?
  3. \frac{3}{4}\% of 16 is what number?
  4. 9.2% of 500 is what number
  5. 8 is 20% of what number?
  6. 99 is 180% of what number?
  7. What percent of 7.2 is 45?
  8. What percent of 150 is 5?
  9. What percent of 50 is 2500?
  10. $3.50 is 25% of what number?


Percent Equation

Percent Equation


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8 , 9

Date Created:

Feb 24, 2012

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Aug 20, 2015
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