Problem 74 - Elementary Algebra

Question

$$ \text { Find } 20 \% \text { of } 40 \text {. } $$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

8

Step 1: Identify the percentage and the base number

First, determine the percentage you need to find and the number it is a percentage of. Here, you are looking to find 20% of 40.

Step 2: Convert the percentage to a decimal

Convert the percentage to a decimal by dividing by 100. For 20%, divide 20 by 100 to get 0.20: \( 20 \text{%} = \frac{20}{100} = 0.20 \)

Step 3: Multiply the decimal by the base number

Multiply the decimal (0.20) by the base number (40): \( 0.20 \times 40 \)

Step 4: Solve the multiplication

Multiply the numbers to find the answer: \( 0.20 \times 40 = 8 \)

Step 5: State the final answer

The result of the multiplication is the answer. Therefore, 20% of 40 is 8.

Key Concepts

Basic Arithmetic Operations

Basic arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are the foundation of all math problems. In this exercise, we focused on multiplication, but it's crucial to be proficient in all operations.

Understanding how to work with these basic operations helps you solve bigger and more complex math problems. For example, after converting the percentage to a decimal, we used multiplication to find 20% of 40. Practicing these operations daily will improve your math skills significantly.