Express 2.1 million as a percentage of 3.7 million, giving your answer to 1 decimal place.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To express 2.1 million as a percentage of 3.7 million, you can use the formula for calculating percentages, which is:
[
\text{Percentage} = \left( \frac{\text{Part}}{\text{Whole}} \right) \times 100
]
In this case, 2.1 million is the part, and 3.7 million is the whole. Let’s perform the calculation step-by-step.
- Identify the Values:
- Part = 2.1 million
- Whole = 3.7 million
- Plug the Values into the Formula:
[
\text{Percentage} = \left( \frac{2.1 \text{ million}}{3.7 \text{ million}} \right) \times 100
] - Perform the Division:
[
\frac{2.1}{3.7} \approx 0.5676
] - Multiply by 100:
[
0.5676 \times 100 \approx 56.76
] - Round to One Decimal Place:
- The final result is approximately 56.8%.
Explanation
Understanding percentages is crucial in various fields, including finance, healthcare, and statistics. A percentage represents a fraction of 100, making it easier to compare relative sizes of different quantities. In this example, we are comparing 2.1 million to 3.7 million to determine how much of the whole (3.7 million) is represented by the part (2.1 million).
The process involves dividing the part by the whole, giving a decimal that represents the proportion of the part to the whole. Multiplying this decimal by 100 converts it into a percentage.
Rounding to one decimal place is a common practice when presenting percentages, as it provides a clear and concise representation without overwhelming detail.
In practical applications, expressing values as percentages allows for quick comparisons and insights. For instance, in budgeting, understanding what percentage of total expenses are attributed to different categories can inform decision-making. In healthcare, it might indicate the percentage of patients responding to a particular treatment. Overall, mastering percentage calculations is an essential skill for making informed judgments based on numerical data.