Problem 25 - Calculate With Confidence

Question

An infant consumed 55% of an 8 ounce bottle of formula. How many ounces of formula did the infant consume? ________

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The infant consumed 4.4 ounces of formula.

Step 1: Understand the Problem

The problem asks us to find how many ounces of formula an infant consumed if they drank 55% of an 8-ounce bottle.

Step 2: Convert the Percentage to a Decimal

To perform calculations, convert the percentage to a decimal. 55% can be converted by dividing 55 by 100, which gives us 0.55.

Step 3: Calculate the Consumed Amount

Multiply the total amount of formula (8 ounces) by the decimal form of the percentage (0.55). This multiplication will give us the ounces consumed:\[ 8 \, \text{ounces} \times 0.55 = 4.4 \, \text{ounces} \]

Step 4: Conclusion

After calculating the multiplication, we find that the infant consumed 4.4 ounces of formula.

Key Concepts

Understanding Percentage Calculations

Percentage calculations are useful for determining parts of a whole. In this context, the percentage represents how much of the total we are interested in. When you see a percentage, it's telling you how many parts out of 100. For example, 55% means 55 parts out of 100.
To find this part of a whole, we convert the percentage into a more useful form, such as a fraction or a decimal. This makes it easier to apply in real-world mathematical problems by allowing us to perform operations like multiplication or division.

• The percentage sign (%) always represents per hundred.
• A quick hint: any percentage can be converted by dividing the number by 100.
• Always consider the total (or whole) quantity before proceeding with percentage calculations.

Converting Percentages to Decimals

Converting percentages to decimals simplifies mathematical operations. To convert a percentage to a decimal, divide the percentage number by 100. This is because 'percent' essentially means 'per hundred'.

For example, to convert 55% to a decimal, you take the number 55 and divide by 100:
\[ 55\% = \frac{55}{100} = 0.55 \]
This conversion allows you to perform multiplication with the percentage value easily, as seen when calculating the number of ounces consumed by the infant. Simply replace the percentage with its decimal equivalent in calculations.

• Practice regularly converting percentage values to decimals to gain confidence.
• Remember this step as essential – it's crucial for percentage-based calculations.

Mastering Multiplication of Decimals

Multiplying decimals is a key step when working with percentages converted into decimals. After converting a percentage to a decimal, the next step is to multiply it by the total amount to find the specific quantity.
In this problem, you multiply the decimal (0.55) by the total ounces of formula (8 ounces). Here's the calculation:
\[ 8 \times 0.55 = 4.4 \]
The result of 4.4 tells us exactly how much of the 8 ounces the infant consumed.

• Be sure to line up the decimal points correctly to avoid mistakes.
• Multiply as if working with whole numbers, then place the decimal point in the result.
• Check back with the original problem to ensure the solution makes logical sense.

This method can be applied to various real-world scenarios, making it an essential mathematical technique.