The Three Types of Percent Problems

Definition: Base, Percentage, and Rate

The base, denoted B, is the whole in a problem. It is the standard used for
comparison.

The percentage, denoted P, is the part of the whole being compared to the base.

The rate, denoted R, is the ratio of the amount to the base. It is written as a
percent.

A. Identifying rates:

What is 20% of 350? 20%-rate (0.20) x 350-base = percentage-? Unknown (70)

40% of what number is 72? 40%-rate (0.40) x ?unknown= 72 (percentage) 72/0.40= 180
(base)

20 is what percent of 80? 20 (percentage) =?(rate) x 80 (base) 20/80x 100=25% rate

B. Identifying bases:

What is 20% of 350?

40% of what number is 72?

20 is what percent of 80?

C. Identifying percentages:

What is 20% of 350? (20% of 350 is what?)

40% of what number is 72?

20 is what percent of 80? (What percent of 80 is 20?)

D. In the following problems, identify the rate, the base, and the percentage.
1) 150 is 20% of 750. R = 20% B = 750 P = 150

2) 200 is 40% of 500. R = 40% B = 500 P = 200

E. In the following problems, identify what you are being asked to find or the unknown (the rate,
the base, or the percentage). Don’t solve the problem (yet).

3) 80 is what percent of 400? Unknown: Rate.

4) What percent of 150 is 30? Unknown: Rate.

5) What is 60% of 250? Unknown: Percentage.

6) 150 is 75% of what number? Unknown: Base.

7) 22% of Shirley’s monthly salary is deducted for withholding. If those deductions total
Php 209, what is her salary? Unknown: Base.

8) A can of mixed nuts contains 80% peanuts. If the can holds 16 ounces, how many
ounces of peanuts does it contain? Unknown: Percentage.

9) In a shipment of 750 parts, 75 were found to be defective. What percent of the parts
were faulty? Unknown: Rate.
F. SOLVING THE THREE TYPES OF PERCENT PROBLEMS

In general, when we solve percent problems, one of the 3 pieces, the rate, base, or
percentage is missing. We have to identify what is missing or unknown and find it! To find it,
we use the percent proportion (or we can set up an equation as we did last time).

where P is the percentage, B is the base, and R is the rate

(without the

% sign. Example if R = 25%, then we just use R = 25.)

Examples:

Solve the following problems:

1) 80 is what percent of 400?

Solution: Unknown: RATE

P R
B
= 100
80 R
400
= 100
400(R) = (80)(100)
400R = 8000
400 R 8 000
400 = 400 Therefore, R = 20% or The rate is 20%.

2) What is 75% of 120?

Solution: Unknown: PERCENTAGE
P R
B
= 100
P 75
120
= 100
100(P) = (120)(75)
100P = 9 000
100 P 9 000
100 = 100 Therefore, P = 90 or The percentage is 90

3) 150 is 75% of what number?

Solution: Unknown: BASE
P R
B
= 100
150 75
B
= 100
75(B) = (150)(100)
75B = 15 000
75 B 15 000
75 = 75 Therefore, B = 200 or The base is 200.

G. Writing an EQUATION for the Percent Problems

Write an equation for the problems. NO need to solve.

Examples:
1) 10 is what percent of 25? Answer: 10 = R x 25
2) What is 33.3% of 150? Answer: P = 33.3% x 150
3) 27 is 90% of what number? Answer: 27 = 90% x B