30 is what percent of 60?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
30 is 50% of 60.
Explanation:
To determine what percent one number is of another, use the formula:
[
\text{Percent} = \left( \frac{\text{Part}}{\text{Whole}} \right) \times 100
]
Here, the part is 30, and the whole is 60. Substituting these values into the formula:
[
\text{Percent} = \left( \frac{30}{60} \right) \times 100
]
- Divide 30 by 60:
[
\frac{30}{60} = 0.5
] - Multiply 0.5 by 100:
[
0.5 \times 100 = 50
]
Thus, 30 is 50% of 60.
Why This Works:
Percentages are a way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100. In this problem, you are finding how many “hundredths” 30 represents relative to 60.
- The fraction ( \frac{30}{60} ) simplifies to ( \frac{1}{2} ), meaning 30 is half of 60.
- When converting ( \frac{1}{2} ) into a percentage, you multiply by 100 because “percent” means “per hundred.”
- The result, 50%, confirms that 30 is half of 60.
Practical Example:
Understanding percentages is important in daily life. For instance:
- If you scored 30 points out of 60 on a test, your score would be 50%.
- Similarly, if an item originally priced at $60 is on sale for $30, the discount is 50%.
This approach applies universally, whether comparing quantities, calculating discounts, or analyzing data. By dividing the part by the whole and multiplying by 100, you can quickly determine the percentage in any scenario.