Understanding the Meaning of Percent
Before diving into our specific example of 20 percent of 160, it helps to review what the word "percent" means. Percent simply means "out of 100" or "per 100". So 20 percent means 20 out of 100 or 20 per 100.
When we are asked to calculate the percentage of a specific number, we are finding what fraction of that number equals the percentage described out of 100. For instance, if you wanted to determine 10 percent of 50, you would calculate what number equals 10 out of 100 parts of 50.
Using a Percentage Formula
To find any percentage of a number, we can use this simple formula:
Percentage x Total Number / 100 = Percentage of Total Number
Let's see how this formula works with some examples:
10% of 50:
10 x 50 / 100 = 5
30% of 40:
30 x 40 / 100 = 12
As you can see, the formula allows us to take any percentage of a total number and derive the result.
Applying the Formula to Find 20 Percent of 160
Now we can apply this handy percentage formula to solve our original question - figuring out 20 percent of 160. Following the pattern above, we get:
20% of 160:
20 x 160 / 100 = 32
So 20 percent of 160 equals 32.
Checking Our Work
Whenever solving math problems, it's always a good idea to double check that your answer makes logical sense. Since 20 percent means 20 out of 100, another way we could find 20 percent of 160 is:
1) Divide 160 by 100 to determine the value of 1 percent: 160 / 100 = 1.6 Multiply the value of 1 percent by 20: 1.6 x 20 = 32
This matches the result from our percentage formula, helping confirm that 20 percent of 160 is indeed 32.Using Visuals to Understand Percentages
For many people, a visual representation makes percentages more intuitive. We can illustrate 20 percent of 160 using a simple pie chart:
[insert pie chart with 20% shaded out of total]
As you can see, 20 percent or 20/100 of the full 160 pie is 32. Thinking of taking a percentage as taking a slice of the total makes the calculation more straightforward.
Converting Percentages to Decimals and Fractions
We can also express 20 percent as a decimal or fraction to further demonstrate the relationship:
- 20 percent = 0.2 (or 20/100)
- 20 percent of 160 = 0.2 * 160 = 32
- 20 percent of 160 = (20/100) * 160 = 32
Using Percentage Shortcuts
Some simple shortcuts can make finding percentages even easier without formulas or fractions. For example, to get 10 percent of any number, just move the decimal point one place to the left. 10 percent of 50 is 5 and 10 percent of 160 is 16 using this shortcut method.
For 20 percent, doubling that 10 percent figure gets you the quick answer. So for 20 percent of 160, we take 10 percent (16) and double it to get 32. Memorizing these kinds of percentage shortcuts can really speed up your mental math abilities.
When to Use Percentages in Real Life
Here are just a few examples of calculating percentages that frequently come up in everyday situations:
- Tipping - To tip 20% on a $50 restaurant bill, take 20% of 50 = $10 tip
- Sales tax - With a sales tax of 8%, on a $200 purchase the tax would be 8% of 200 = $16
- Discounts - Finding the price of a $100 item at 20% off would be 20% of 100 = $20 in savings
- Commission - If you earn a 10% commission on $5,000 in sales, your commission would be 10% of 5000 = $500
Anytime you need to find a fractional amount of a total number, percentages come in handy to quickly calculate the desired amount.
Fun Practice Problems for Calculating Percentages
The more you practice calculating percents, the quicker and more comfortable you will become. Try out these example problems to test your skills:
1) What is 20% of 75?
2) If you scored 85 out of 100 points on a test, what was your percentage grade?
3) A population of 50,000 grew by 15% last year. By how many did it increase?
4) A item is on sale for 60% off the original $200 price. What is the sale price?
5) If you walked 3 miles in 60 minutes, what percentage of an hour did it take you?
Check your work and be sure you understand how to reach the solutions. With mastery over percentage calculations, you'll gain a useful life skill and exercise your mathematical reasoning abilities.
FAQs
What does the word "percent" mean?
Percent means "out of 100" or "per 100". So 20 percent means 20 out of 100.
What is the formula for finding any percentage of a number?
The percentage formula is: Percentage x Total Number / 100 = Percentage of Total Number.
What is 20 percent of 160?
Using the percentage formula: 20% of 160: 20 x 160 / 100 = 32
How else can you calculate 20 percent of 160?
Divide 160 by 100 to get 1 percent (1.6). Then multiply 1.6 by 20 to also get 32 for 20 percent of 160.
What are some real world uses of percentages?
Percentages are used for tips, sales tax, discounts, commissions, test scores, population growth rates, and much more. Anytime you need to find a fraction of a total, percentages are useful.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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