Question

12 is 15 percent of what number?

• A. 1.8
• B. 8
• C. 19.5
• D. 80
• E. 180

Hint:

A quick way to remember how to set up percentage problems: the word "is" usually translates to an equals sign (=), and the word "of" usually translates to multiplication (\(\times\)).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This problem requires translating a sentence into a mathematical equation. The key is to understand what "is" and "of" represent in a mathematical context.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Let the unknown number be \(x\). The sentence "12 is 15 percent of what number?" can be translated as:
\[ 12 = 15% \times x \] We need to solve this equation for \(x\).
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
First, convert the percentage to a decimal or a fraction.
\[ 15% = \frac{15}{100} = 0.15 \] Now substitute this back into the equation:
\[ 12 = 0.15 \times x \] To isolate \(x\), divide both sides by 0.15:
\[ x = \frac{12}{0.15} \] To simplify the division, we can multiply the numerator and denominator by 100 to remove the decimal:
\[ x = \frac{12 \times 100}{0.15 \times 100} = \frac{1200}{15} \] Now, perform the division:
\[ x = 80 \] Step 4: Final Answer:
Therefore, 12 is 15 percent of 80. This corresponds to option (D).