what percent is 5 of 35

Natashya

2 min read

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24-12-2024

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Finding what percentage 5 represents of 35 is a common math problem. Whether you're working on homework, calculating a discount, or figuring out a tip, understanding how to solve this type of problem is essential. This guide will show you how, step-by-step, and explain the underlying concepts.

Understanding Percentages

Before diving into the calculation, let's quickly review what percentages are. A percentage is a fraction expressed as a number out of 100. For example, 25% means 25 out of 100, which can be written as 25/100 or 0.25 as a decimal.

Calculating the Percentage: What Percent is 5 of 35?

Here's how to calculate what percent 5 is of 35:

Step 1: Set up a proportion.

We can represent this problem using a proportion:

x/100 = 5/35

Where 'x' represents the percentage we're trying to find.

Step 2: Cross-multiply.

Cross-multiplying means multiplying the numerator of one fraction by the denominator of the other, and vice-versa. This gives us:

35x = 500

Step 3: Solve for x.

To isolate 'x', divide both sides of the equation by 35:

x = 500 / 35

x ≈ 14.29

Step 4: Express the answer as a percentage.

Therefore, 5 is approximately 14.29% of 35.

Alternative Method: Using Decimal Multiplication

Another way to solve this is to convert the fraction 5/35 to a decimal, then multiply by 100 to express it as a percentage:

1. Convert the fraction to a decimal: 5 ÷ 35 ≈ 0.1429
2. Multiply by 100 to get the percentage: 0.1429 x 100 ≈ 14.29%

Both methods give you the same result: 5 is approximately 14.29% of 35.

Practical Applications

Understanding percentage calculations like this has many real-world uses, including:

• Calculating discounts: If an item is 35 dollars and you get a 14.29% discount, you'll save about 5 dollars.
• Determining tax rates: You can use this process to calculate how much tax you’ll pay on a purchase.
• Analyzing data: In statistics and other fields, calculating percentages is essential for interpreting data.
• Financial calculations: This skill is crucial when dealing with interest rates, investments, and other financial topics.

Conclusion: Mastering Percentage Calculations

Calculating percentages is a fundamental skill with wide-ranging applications. By following the steps outlined above, you can confidently tackle problems like "What percent is 5 of 35?" Remember to practice, and soon you'll be calculating percentages with ease. Knowing this also allows you to quickly check your work using either the proportion method or the decimal multiplication method. Both are valid and useful approaches.