5.

4 Solving Percent Problems Using the Percent Equation

In this section we will develop and use a more algebraic equation approach to solving percent equations. Recall the percent proportion from the last section:
percent percentage = 100 base percent is merely a percent divided by 100, we can consider the decimal form 100 of it in the equation:

Considering that

percentage base percentage base percent = base base percentage = percent base percent =
This last statement is called the percent equation. Remember that the term percent refers to the decimal (or fraction) form, which has already been divided by 100. This percent equation involves the familiar quantities from the past section: percent, base, and percentage. Once identified, the method of solving the equation utilizes our steps for solving equations from Chapter 4. Suppose we are asked to find 18% of 250. The percent is 18% = 0.18 (converted to a decimal), and the base is 250. Using the percent equation:
percentage = percent base x = 0.18 250 x = 45

Thus 18% of 250 is 45. Lets use this approach to re-solve Example 1 from the last section. Example 1 Find the following percentages. a. b. c. d. e. 48% of 120 45% of 286 7.25% of 1500 1 15 % of 2400 2 150% of 260

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Solution

a.

The percent is 48% = 0.48 (converted to decimal) and the base is 120. Using the percent equation: percentage = percent base x = 0.48 120 x = 57.6 Thus 48% of 120 is 57.6. The percent is 45% = 0.45 (converted to decimal) and the base is 286. Using the percent equation: percentage = percent base x = 0.45 286 x = 128.7 Thus 45% of 286 is 128.7. The percent is 7.25% = 0.0725 (converted to decimal) and the base is 1500. Using the percent equation: percentage = percent base x = 0.0725 1500 x = 108.75 Thus 7.25% of 1500 is 108.75.
1 The percent is 15 % = 15.5% = 0.155 (converted to decimal) and the base 2 is 2400. Using the percent equation: percentage = percent base x = 0.155 2400 x = 372 1 Thus 15 % of 2400 is 372. 2

b.

c.

d.

e.

The percent is 150% = 1.50 (converted to decimal) and the base is 260. Using the percent equation: percentage = percent base x = 1.50 260 x = 390 Thus 150% of 260 is 390.

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The second type of percent problem involved one in which the percentage is given and the base is unknown. Suppose we know that 68% of a number is 204. The percent is 68% = 0.68, converted to a decimal. This time the percentage is 204, and the base is unknown. Using the percent equation:
percent base = percentage 0.68 x = 204 204 x= = 300 0.68

Thus 68% of 300 is 204. Note that the percent equation provides an easy check of our answer, since 0.68 300 = 204, verifying our answer. As more practice, lets re-solve Example 2 from the last section. Example 2 Solve the following percent problems. a. b. c. d. e. Solution a. 24% of what number is equal to 120? 35% of what number is equal to 51.8? 7.5% of what number is equal to 270? 1 6 % of what number is equal to 275? 4 125% of what number is equal to 800?

The percent is 24% = 0.24 (converted to decimal) and the percentage is 120. Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage 0.24 x = 120 120 x= = 500 0.24 Thus 24% of 500 is 120. Checking the value: 0.24 500 = 120. The percent is 35% = 0.35 (converted to decimal) and the percentage is 51.8. Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage 0.35 x = 51.8 51.8 x= = 148 0.35 Thus 35% of 148 is 51.8. Checking the value: 0.35 148 = 51.8.

b.

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c.

The percent is 7.5% = 0.075 (converted to decimal) and the percentage is 270. Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage 0.075 x = 270 270 x= = 3600 0.075 Thus 7.5% of 3600 is 270. Checking the value: 0.075 3600 = 270.
1 The percent is 6 % = 6.25% = 0.0625 (converted to decimal) and the 4 percentage is 275. Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage 0.0625 x = 275 275 x= = 4400 0.0625 1 Thus 6 % of 4400 is 275. Checking the value: 0.0625 4400 = 275. 4

d.

e.

The percent is 125% = 1.25 (converted to decimal) and the percentage is 800. Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage 1.25 x = 800 800 x= = 640 1.25 Thus 125% of 640 is 800. Checking the value: 1.25 640 = 800.

The third type of percent problem is where both the percentage and base are given, but the percent is unknown. Suppose we want to know what percent 208 represents out of 320. The percentage is 208, the base is 320, and the percent is unknown. Using the percent equation:

percent base = percentage p 320 = 208 208 p= 320 p = 0.65 = 65%

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Thus 208 represents 65% of 320. Again note that we can check the equation: 0.65 320 = 208. Note the use of the variable p in this equation. It was used as a reminder that p represents a percent, and thus must be converted back to a percent for the final step. This is a good habit to get into in solving percent equations. Now lets re-solve Example 3 from the last section. Example 3 Find the following percents. a. b. c. d. Solution a. 36 is what percent of 80? 132 is what percent of 165? 120 is what percent of 180? 200 is what percent of 160?

The percentage is 36, the base is 80, and the percent is unknown. Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage p 80 = 36 36 p= 80 p = 0.45 = 45% Thus 36 is 45% of 80. Checking the value: 0.45 80 = 36. The percentage is 132, the base is 165, and the percent is unknown. Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage p 165 = 132 132 p= 165 p = 0.80 = 80% Thus 132 is 80% of 165. Checking the value: 0.80 165 = 132. The percentage is 120, the base is 180, and the percent is unknown. Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage

b.

c.

p 180 = 120 120 p= 180 2 2 p = = 66 % 3 3

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2 Thus 120 is 66 % of 180. Note in this problem we did not convert to a 3 decimal, since a repeating decimal would have resulted. 2 Checking the value: 180 = 120. 3

d.

The percentage is 200, the base is 160, and the percent is unknown. Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage p 160 = 200 200 p= 160 p = 1.25 = 125% Thus 200 is 125% of 160. Checking the value: 1.25 160 = 200.

Often students find the percent equation easier to use than the proportion method. Keep in mind that both methods require you to recognize the percent, the base, and the percentage. We will re-solve Example 4 from the previous section, however this time we use the percent equation approach, rather than percent proportions. Example 4 Solve the following percent problems. a. b. c. d. e. f.
1 4 % of 620 is what number? 2 35% of what number is 30.1? 112 is what percent of 140? 297 represents 45% of what number? 19.8% of 1200 is what number? 240 represents what percent of 180?

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Solution

a.

The percent, base, and percentage are: 1 percent = 4 % = 4.5% = 0.045 2 base = 620 percentage = x (unknown) Using the percent equation: percentage = percent base x = 0.045 620 x = 27.9 1 Thus 4 % of 620 is 27.9. 2 The percent, base, and percentage are: percent = 35% = 0.35 base = x (unknown) percentage = 30.1 Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage 0.35 x = 30.1 30.1 x= = 86 0.35 Thus 35% of 86 is 30.1. Checking the value: 0.35 86 = 30.1. The percent, base, and percentage are: percent = p (unknown) base = 140 percentage = 112 Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage p 140 = 112 112 p= 140 p = 0.80 = 80% Thus 112 is 80% of 140. Checking the value: 0.80 140 = 112.

b.

c.

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d.

The percent, base, and percentage are: percent = 45% = 0.45 base = x (unknown) percentage = 297 Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage 0.45 x = 297 297 x= = 660 0.45 Thus 297 represents 45% of 660. Checking the value: 0.45 660 = 297. The percent, base, and percentage are: percent = 19.8% = 0.198 base = 1200 percentage = x (unknown) Using the percent equation: percentage = percent base x = 0.198 1200 x = 237.6 Thus 19.8% of 1200 is 237.6. The percent, base, and percentage are: percent = p (unknown) base = 180 percentage = 240 Using the percent equation: percent base = percentage

e.

f.

p 180 = 240 240 p= 180 4 1 p = = 133 % 3 3 1 4 Thus 240 represents 133 % of 180. Checking the value: 180 = 240 3 3 Note again we used fractions here to avoid using repeating decimals.

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Terminology percent equation

Exercise Set 5.4

Solve the following percent problems. Remember that you will need to recognize the percent, the base, and the percentage in order to set up the percent equation. 1. 3. 5. 7. 9. 11. 13. 15. 17. 19. 21. 23. 25. 27. 29. 31. 33. 35. 37. 39. 69% of 400 is what number? 35% of what number is 280? 136 is what percent of 160? 37% of 1250 is what number? 544 is what percent of 640? 78% of what number is 1029.6? 8.75% of 24,000 is what number? 47.5% of what number is 237.5? 316 is what percent of 474? 1 15 % of 900 is what number? 3 140% of what number is 91? 210 is what percent of 150? 2 15 % of 2100 is what number? 3 1 8 % of what number is 8.075? 2 36 is what percent of 20? 285% of 340 is what number? 1 8 % of what number is 100? 3 413.1 is what percent of 486? 625% of 80 is what number? 320% of what number is 240? 2. 4. 6. 8. 10. 12. 14. 16. 18. 20. 22. 24. 26. 28. 30. 32. 34. 36. 38. 40. 65% of 148 is what number? 55% of what number is 275? 288 is what percent of 400? 56% of 1420 is what number? 195 is what percent of 250? 57% of what number is 826.5? 8.3% of 1,300 is what number? 52.8% of what number is 316.8? 750 is what percent of 900? 3 21 % of 800 is what number? 4 160% of what number is 83.2? 500 is what percent of 360? 3 5 % of 840 is what number? 4 3 10 % of what number is 90.3? 4 450 is what percent of 250? 228% of 450 is what number? 2 9 % of what number is 147.9? 3 482.4 is what percent of 720? 500% of 64 is what number? 420% of what number is 441?

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