What is 20 percent of 240???
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
To calculate 20 percent of 240, you follow a straightforward process involving basic arithmetic. The formula for calculating a percentage of a number is given by:Percentage of a number=(Percentage100)×Number\text{Percentage of a number} = \left(\frac{\text{Percentage}}{100}\right) \times \text{Number}Percentage of a number=(100Percentage)×Number
In this case, we want to find 20 percent of 240. Here, the percentage is 20, and the number is 240. Plugging these values into the formula gives us:20% of 240=(20100)×24020\% \text{ of } 240 = \left(\frac{20}{100}\right) \times 24020% of 240=(10020)×240
To simplify, first convert the percentage to a decimal:20100=0.20\frac{20}{100} = 0.2010020=0.20
Now, we multiply this decimal by the number:0.20×240=480.20 \times 240 = 480.20×240=48
Thus, 20 percent of 240 is 48.
Explanation
Understanding percentages is essential in various fields, including finance, mathematics, and everyday calculations. A percentage represents a part of a whole and is often used to describe how one quantity relates to another. When dealing with percentages, converting the percentage to a decimal is a critical step, as it makes multiplication easier.
For instance, calculating percentages is commonly seen in scenarios such as sales tax, discounts, and academic scores. For example, if a store is having a sale offering 20% off a $240 item, calculating the discount can help a consumer decide whether to purchase the item.
By finding 20% of the item’s price (which is $240), we found that the discount amounts to $48. Therefore, the sale price would then be:240−48=192240 – 48 = 192240−48=192
This mathematical approach is crucial, especially in financial literacy. By understanding how to calculate percentages, individuals can make informed decisions about spending, savings, and investments. Additionally, percentages are also widely used in statistics to interpret data and trends, making them a fundamental concept across many disciplines.