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Understanding the Basics
When it comes to math, one of the most basic concepts is that of percentages. A percentage is simply a way of expressing a portion of a whole. For example, if you have 100 apples and you give away 20 of them, you have given away 20% of your total apples.
In the case of “What’s 20 of 500?”, we are asking what percentage of 500 is equal to 20. In other words, what portion of 500 is equal to 20?
The Calculation
To calculate this percentage, we can use a simple formula:
Percentage = (part / whole) x 100
In this case, our “part” is 20 and our “whole” is 500. So, we can plug those values into the formula:
Percentage = (20 / 500) x 100
Simplifying this calculation, we get:
Percentage = 4%
Real World Applications
Understanding percentages is an important skill in many areas of life. For example, if you are shopping and see an item that is marked down by 20%, you can quickly calculate the new price by applying the same formula:
New Price = Original Price – (Original Price x Percentage)
So, if you see a shirt that is originally priced at $50 and is marked down by 20%, you can calculate the new price like this:
New Price = $50 – ($50 x 0.20)
New Price = $40
Common Misconceptions
One common misconception about percentages is that they are always out of 100. While percentages are typically expressed as a number out of 100, they can actually represent any portion of a whole. For example, you could say that 20 out of 500 is 0.04, which is equivalent to 4%.
Another common misconception is that percentages are always whole numbers. However, percentages can be any number with a decimal point. For example, 4.5% is a valid percentage.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, “What’s 20 of 500?” is asking what percentage of 500 is equal to 20. By using a simple percentage formula, we can determine that 20 out of 500 is equal to 4%. Understanding percentages is an important skill in many areas of life, and it’s important to remember that percentages can represent any portion of a whole and can include decimal points.
