Math Is Fun Forum

jmoore

Member

Registered: 2008-01-09

Posts: 25

Percentages help

Hey it's me again

umm i understand the formula when working out percentages for example 3/20*100 the only downside is a can't seem to work it out and i dont know how to

this is my way which is wrong , 3 goes into 20 6 times then if we times that by 100 i get 600% but the answer is 15% which has confused

what am i doing wrong, as i dont know how to divide correctly?

NullRoot

Member

Registered: 2007-11-19

Posts: 162

Re: Percentages help

Hi again, J.

The confusion is that 3/20 means how many times does 20 go into 3. So when you're working out that 3 goes into 20 6 times, you're actually solving the fraction 20/3!

If you see a division sign just remember that it's the bottom that goes into the top! It helps if you read it out.

For instance:
1/2 = "one divided by two"
1/3 = "one divided by three"
3/20 = "three divided by twenty"

This should hopefully help you remember that it's the first number being acted on by the second number.

You'll also need to learn how to divide a small number by one that's larger! Try searching with www.google.com for "fractions long division".

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Trillian: Five to one against and falling. Four to one against and falling… Three to one, two, one. Probability factor of one to one. We have normality. I repeat, we have normality. Anything you still can’t cope with is therefore your own problem.

John E. Franklin

Member

Registered: 2005-08-29

Posts: 3,588

Re: Percentages help

Hi J, also if you divide 100 by the 6 you got then you get close to the 15 answer.
This is no coincidence.
Like try 3/6*100% your way.
3 goes into 6 twice or two times.
So 100 divided by 2 is 50, and that's the right answer 50%

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igloo myrtilles fourmis

treehugger96

Member

Registered: 2007-12-24

Posts: 10

Re: Percentages help

here's how to do it: 3/20*100/1=300/20=30/2=15%

sorry if that's not any help

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........"To my mind having care and concern for others is the highest of human qualities"
.........Fred Hollows