8 is 40 percent of what number
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
8 is 40 percent of 20.
Explanation (Approx. 300 words):
To solve the question, “8 is 40 percent of what number?”, we are essentially being asked to find the whole number (or the original amount) of which 8 is 40%.
Step 1: Understanding the Question
“8 is 40 percent of what number?” means we are being told that 40% of some number equals 8, and we need to find that unknown number.
In mathematical terms, this is written as: 0.40×X=80.40 \times X = 8
Where:
- 0.40 is the decimal form of 40%
- X is the unknown number
- 8 is the result of taking 40% of X
Step 2: Solving the Equation
We can solve this simple equation for XX by dividing both sides by 0.40: X=80.40X = \frac{8}{0.40}
Now do the division: X=20X = 20
So, 8 is 40 percent of 20.
Why This Works:
Percent means “per hundred.” So, 40 percent is the same as 40 out of 100, or the fraction 40100=0.40\frac{40}{100} = 0.40. When a problem says “A is B% of C,” it’s essentially saying: A=B100×CA = \frac{B}{100} \times C
To find C, you work backward: C=A(B/100)C = \frac{A}{(B/100)}
In this case: C=8(40/100)=80.40=20C = \frac{8}{(40/100)} = \frac{8}{0.40} = 20
Real-Life Application:
Understanding percentages is useful in everyday situations like sales, discounts, taxes, and interest rates. For example, if a 40% discount saves you $8, then the original price was $20. This skill helps with smart budgeting and decision-making.
So, the answer is 20, and understanding how we arrived at that helps strengthen basic math and financial literacy skills.