Question

What is 50% of 36?

Answer 1

`18`

Explanation:

`x%` can be written as `x/100`.

"of", when working with percentages, means the same as multiplying.

Therefore:

`50%` `of` `36 => 50/100 xx36 = 1800/100 => 18/1 => 18`

Answer 2

18

Explanation:

In the same way that inches, centimetres, miles and kilometres are unit of measurement so is % a unit of measurement. When you see % think of `1/100`. So percent is measuring in hundredths.

Consequently `50%" is the same as "50xx1/100=50/100`

In the same way that 2 of something is the same as `2xx" something,"` 50% of 36 is the same as `50/100xx36`

But `50/100" is the same as "(50-:50)/(100-:50) =1/2`

So 50% of 36 is the same as `1/2xx36 = 18`