Problem:

In a survey of 120 pupils it was found that 20% had personal stereos. How many pupils had personal
stereos?

Change the percentage to a decimal, then multiply by the number of children.

20% = 0.20

0.20 times 120 = 24

Example

47% of the students in a class of 34 students has glasses or contacts. How many students in the class have
either glasses or contacts?

a=r⋅ba=r⋅b

47%=0.47a47%=0.47a

=0.47⋅34=0.47⋅34

a=15.98≈16a=15.98≈16

16 of the students wear either glasses or contacts.

A baseball pitcher won 80% of the games he pitched. If he pitched 35 ballgames, how many games did
he win?

80% of 35 is what? 1. Multiply the opposites

80 x 35 = 2800

2. Divide by the remaining number 28 100 2800 28 games

In a class of 50 students, 40 % are girls. Find the number of girls and number
of boys in the class?

Solution:

Number of girls in the class = 40 % of 50

= 40/100 × 50

= 2000/100

= 20
Number of boys in the class = Total number of students in the class - Number
of girls

= 50 – 20

= 30