20 Is What Percent Of 130

20 is What Percent of 130? A Simple Percentage Calculation Explained

Finding out what percentage 20 represents of 130 is a common mathematical problem with applications in various fields, from calculating discounts and sales tax to understanding statistical data. This article will guide you through the process, explaining the steps involved and providing a clear understanding of percentage calculations. We'll also explore some real-world examples to solidify your understanding.

Understanding Percentages:

A percentage is a way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100. The term "percent" literally means "per hundred". So, when we say 20% (twenty percent), it means 20 out of 100, or 20/100, which simplifies to 1/5.

Calculating the Percentage:

To find out what percentage 20 is of 130, we need to follow these steps:

1. Set up a proportion: We can express the problem as a ratio: 20/130. This ratio shows the part (20) compared to the whole (130).

2. Convert the ratio to a decimal: Divide the part by the whole: 20 ÷ 130 ≈ 0.1538

3. Convert the decimal to a percentage: Multiply the decimal by 100: 0.1538 x 100 ≈ 15.38%

Therefore, 20 is approximately 15.38% of 130.

Alternative Method: Using a Formula

You can also use the following formula to calculate percentages:

(Part / Whole) x 100 = Percentage

In this case:

(20 / 130) x 100 ≈ 15.38%

Real-World Applications:

Understanding percentage calculations is essential in many everyday situations. Here are a few examples:

• Sales and Discounts: If an item is discounted by 15.38%, you can use this method to determine the amount of the discount from the original price of $130.

• Tax Calculations: Sales tax is usually expressed as a percentage. This calculation can help you determine the total cost of an item including tax.

• Grade Calculation: If you scored 20 out of 130 points on a test, you scored approximately 15.38%.

• Data Analysis: Percentages are frequently used in statistics to represent proportions within a dataset.

Rounding Percentages:

In many cases, you'll need to round your percentage to a certain number of decimal places. For example, you might round 15.38% to 15.4% for easier understanding or to meet specific requirements.

Conclusion:

Calculating percentages is a fundamental skill with wide-ranging applications. By understanding the steps involved and the different methods available, you can confidently solve percentage problems and apply this knowledge to various real-world scenarios. Remember that practice makes perfect – the more you work with percentage calculations, the more comfortable and efficient you'll become.