Percentages are a way of expressing a part of something as a portion of 100. So, if you want to know what percentage is 12 out of 20, you’re trying to figure out how many parts out of 100 that represents. Understanding percentages comes in handy all the time, from figuring out sales tax to calculating tips.
Calculating the Percentage
To figure out what percentage 12 out of 20 represents, you’ll need to convert the numbers into a percentage.
Fraction to Decimal
Think of “12 out of 20” as the fraction 12/20. Then, divide the top number (numerator) by the bottom number (denominator):
12 ÷ 20 = 0.6
Decimal to Percentage
To turn the decimal into a percentage, multiply it by 100:
0.6 100 = 60%
Conclusion
So, 12 out of 20 is equivalent to 60%.
Another way to look at it
Percentages are just fractions with 100 as the bottom number. We can turn 12/20 into a percentage if we can figure out what the top number would be if the bottom number was 100.
Since 20 times 5 is 100, we can multiply both parts of the fraction by 5. That means:
- 12 times 5 = 60
- 20 times 5 = 100
So, 12/20 is the same as 60/100, or 60 percent.
In Conclusion
So, 12 out of 20 is 60%. Understanding how to calculate percentages is important, and these calculations have a wide range of uses. You’ll find percentages in everything from finance to statistics and many areas in between.