6 is 15 percent of what amount?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To determine what amount 6 is 15 percent of, we can use the formula for finding the whole when given a part and its percentage:
[
\text{Part} = \text{Percentage} \times \text{Whole}
]
In this case, the part is 6, and the percentage is 15 percent, which can be expressed as a decimal (0.15). We can rearrange the formula to solve for the whole:
[
\text{Whole} = \frac{\text{Part}}{\text{Percentage}}
]
Substituting the known values into the formula gives:
[
\text{Whole} = \frac{6}{0.15}
]
Calculating this:
[
\text{Whole} = 40
]
So, 6 is 15 percent of 40.
Explanation
To understand this calculation, let’s break it down. When we say that a number (in this case, 6) represents a certain percentage (15%), we are essentially asking: “What total number, when multiplied by 15%, will yield 6?”
Percentages represent a fraction of 100, meaning 15% can be understood as 15 out of 100 or 15/100. To find what whole number corresponds to this percentage, we convert the percentage to a decimal by dividing by 100 (hence, 15% becomes 0.15).
Using the formula, we divide the part (6) by the decimal (0.15) to determine the total amount (whole). The result (40) indicates that if we take 15% of 40, we will indeed get back to 6. This type of calculation is essential in various fields, including finance, statistics, and everyday problem-solving, as it helps to understand proportions and comparisons between quantities.
By mastering these calculations, one can easily interpret situations involving percentages, making it a valuable skill for both academic and real-world applications.