# What is 3.5% of 500?

Mar 1, 2017

$17.5$

#### Explanation:

Move the decimal place of 3.5 two times to the left because it's a percent.

3.5%=.035

Now multiply $.035$ to 500.

$.035 \cdot 500 = 17.5$

Mar 1, 2017

17.5

#### Explanation:

The symbol % is like a unit of measurement that is worth $\frac{1}{100}$

So 3.5%" "->" "3.5xx1/100 = 3.5/100

The use of the word 'of' is interpreted as multiply

Like in 2 of apples $= 2 \times$ apples = apples + apples

So 3.5% of 5000 is the same as:

$\frac{3.5}{100} \times 500$
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However, 500 is the same as $5 \times 100$ so we can write this as:

$3.5 \times \frac{1}{100} \times 5 \times 100$

$3.5 \times 5 \times \frac{1}{100} \times 100$

$3.5 \times 5 \times \frac{100}{100}$

$3.5 \times 5 \times 1$

$3.5 \times 5$

$3.5 \times \frac{10}{2} \text{ "=" } \frac{35}{2} = 17.5$