What Percentage Of 60 Is 12

What Percentage of 60 is 12? A Simple Guide to Percentage Calculations

This article will guide you through calculating what percentage 12 represents of 60. Understanding percentages is crucial in various aspects of life, from calculating discounts to analyzing financial data. This seemingly simple question provides a perfect opportunity to understand the fundamental principles of percentage calculations.

Understanding Percentages: A percentage is a fraction or ratio expressed as a number out of 100. For example, 50% means 50 out of 100, or 50/100, which simplifies to 1/2.

Method 1: Using Proportions

The most straightforward method involves setting up a proportion. We can express the problem as:

12/60 = x/100

Where 'x' represents the percentage we're trying to find. To solve for 'x', we cross-multiply:

12 * 100 = 60 * x

1200 = 60x

Now, divide both sides by 60:

x = 1200 / 60

x = 20

Therefore, 12 is 20% of 60.

Method 2: Using Decimal Conversion

This method involves converting the fraction into a decimal and then multiplying by 100 to express it as a percentage.

First, we express the relationship as a fraction:

12/60

Simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 12:

12/60 = 1/5

Now, convert the fraction to a decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator:

1 ÷ 5 = 0.2

Finally, multiply the decimal by 100 to express it as a percentage:

0.2 * 100 = 20%

Again, we arrive at the answer: 12 is 20% of 60.

Real-World Applications:

Understanding percentage calculations has numerous practical applications. Imagine you're shopping and find an item originally priced at $60 is now discounted to $48. To calculate the discount percentage, you would use the same method:

(60 - 48) / 60 * 100 = 20%

The item is discounted by 20%.

Conclusion:

Calculating what percentage one number represents of another is a fundamental mathematical skill with wide-ranging applications. Both the proportion method and the decimal conversion method provide accurate and efficient ways to solve these types of problems. Mastering these techniques empowers you to confidently tackle percentage calculations in various contexts. Remember to always check your work and consider using a calculator for larger numbers to ensure accuracy.