61% of what number is 8.54?

2 Answers
Feb 19, 2017

61% of 14 is 8.54

Explanation:

"Percent" or "%" means "out of 100" or "per 100", Therefore 61% can be written as #61/100#.

When dealing with percents the word "of" means "times" or "to multiply".

Finally, lets call the number we are looking for "n".

Putting this altogether we can write this equation and solve for #n# while keeping the equation balanced:

#61/100 xx n = 8.54#

#color(red)(100)/color(blue)(61) xx 61/100 xx n = color(red)(100)/color(blue)(61) xx 8.54#

#cancel(color(red)(100))/cancel(color(blue)(61)) xx color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(61)))/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(100))) xx n = 854/color(blue)(61)#

#n = 14#

Feb 19, 2017

#x = 14#

Explanation:

Percentage calculations can be done as a direct proportion using equivalent fractions.

You just need to decide what corresponds with what.

#61%# of some unknown number is #8.54. #
The unknown number is the #100%#

#8.54/61 = x/100" " (larr "the number")/(larr"the percent")#

#61 xx x = 8.54 xx 100" "larr# cross multiply

#x = (8.54 xx 100)/61#

#x = 14#

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OR you can set up an equation and solve it.

Let the unknown number be #x#

#61% " of " x " is " 8.54" "larr# change this into math

#61/100 xx x=8.54#

#x = (8.54 xx 100)/61#

#x = 14#