40 is what percent of 32?

2 Answers
Mar 1, 2017

40 is #color(red)(125%)# of 32

Explanation:

First, lets call the percent we are looking for "p".

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

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

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

#40 = p/100 xx 32#

#color(red)(100)/color(blue)(32) xx 40 = color(red)(100)/color(blue)(32) xx p/100 xx 32#

#4000/color(blue)(32) = cancel(color(red)(100))/cancel(color(blue)(32)) xx p/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(100))) xx color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(32)))#

#125 = p#

#p = 125#

Mar 1, 2017

125%.

Explanation:

Translate from words to math:

#"40 is what percent of 32"#

#40=x xx 1/100xx32#

#40=(32x)/100#

#(40xx100)/32=x#

#125=x#

You can also think of it as this:

32 is like our whole. It's like our 100%. So 32 is to 100% as 40 is to what percent?

#32/(100%)=40/x#

#32x=40(100%)#

#x=(40(100%))/32#

#x=125%#