37.5 is 60% of what number?

2 Answers
Nov 16, 2016

37.5 is 60% of 62.5#

Explanation:

First, let's call the number we are looking for n.

"Percent" or "%" means "out of 100" or "per 100", Therefore 60% can be written as 60/100.

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

So, putting this all together allows us to write the following equation and solve for n while keeping the equation balanced:

60/100 xx n = 37.5

100/60 xx 60/100 xx n = 100/60 xx 37.5

1 xx n = 3750/60

n = 62.5

Nov 16, 2016

The number is 62.5

Explanation:

color(blue)("The general principle")

% is units of measurement and % is worth 1/100

So 60% -> 60xx1/100 = 60/100

Using the principle of ratios, which really is the same thing as
smendyker used. It just looks different.

Consider 60/100 as the reference ratio giving us:

60/100-=37.5/("some unknown value")

Let the unknown value be x giving:

60/100-=37.5/x
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
color(blue)("Building the conversion method")

These are ratios and equivalent to each other ( -=)

Then if I maintain the ratio but change the 60 into 37.5 I will find out what x is worth.

Step 1: change 60 into 1 ->60 -:60 = 60xx1/60 = 1

Step 2: multiply the 1 by 37.5-> 60xx1/60xx37.5 = 60xx37.5/60
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
color(blue)("Applying the conversion method")

Multiply by 1 but in the form of 1=(color(white)(.)37.5/60color(white)(.))/(37.5/60)

color(green)([60/100color(magenta)(xx1)]->[60/100color(magenta)(xx(color(white)(.)37.5/60color(white)(.))/(37.5/60) ) ]

=37.5/62.5

So the number is 62.5
...................................................................
That is: 60/100xx62.5 = 37.5