Calculate 20% of 50: Step-by-Step Percentage Problem

Q: Why do I divide by 100 to convert a percentage?

Because percent means "per hundred"! When you see 20%, it literally means 20 out of every 100. So $ \frac{20}{100} = 0.2 $.

Q: Can I solve this using fractions instead of decimals?

Absolutely! You can use $ \frac{20}{100} \times 50 $. Simplify the fraction first: $ \frac{20}{100} = \frac{1}{5} $, then $ \frac{1}{5} \times 50 = 10 $.

Q: What's an easy way to check if 20% of 50 is 10?

Think logically: 10% of 50 is 5 (half of 10%), so 20% should be twice that = 10. This mental math check confirms our answer!

Q: Is there a shortcut for finding 20% of any number?

Yes! Since 20% = $ \frac{1}{5} $, you can divide any number by 5 to find 20% of it. For example: 50 ÷ 5 = 10.

Q: What if I need to find a different percentage like 15% or 35%?

Use the same process: convert to decimal first. 15% = 0.15, 35% = 0.35. Then multiply by your number. The method never changes!

Percentage Calculations with Decimal Conversion

Calculate 20% of 50:

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:02 Let's calculate twenty percent of fifty.

00:06 First, we'll convert the percentage to a fraction.

00:10 Twenty percent is the same as twenty over one hundred.

00:18 Now, multiply this fraction by fifty to find the percentage of the number.

00:29 Next, simplify by breaking down into factors and reduce if possible.

00:35 And there we have it! That's the solution.

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Calculate 20% of 50:

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, let'sfollow these steps:

Step 1: Convert the percentage into a decimal.
Step 2: Multiply this decimal by the given whole number to find the desired amount.

Now, let's apply these steps to the given problem:
Step 1: We have 20%, which is equivalent to $\frac{20}{100} = 0.2$ .
Step 2: Multiply this decimal by the whole number: $0.2 \times 50 = 10$ .

Therefore, 20% of 50 is $10$ .

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Convert percentage to decimal by dividing by 100
Technique: 20% becomes 0.2, then multiply: 0.2 × 50 = 10
Check: Verify using fraction method: 20/100 × 50 = 10 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Forgetting to convert percentage to decimal first
Don't multiply 20 × 50 = 1000! This ignores that 20% means 20 out of 100, not 20 whole units. Always convert the percentage to a decimal (20% = 0.2) before multiplying.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Calculate 30 over 100 as a percentage:

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I divide by 100 to convert a percentage?

Because percent means "per hundred"! When you see 20%, it literally means 20 out of every 100. So $\frac{20}{100} = 0.2$ .

Can I solve this using fractions instead of decimals?

Absolutely! You can use $\frac{20}{100} \times 50$ . Simplify the fraction first: $\frac{20}{100} = \frac{1}{5}$ , then $\frac{1}{5} \times 50 = 10$ .

What's an easy way to check if 20% of 50 is 10?

Think logically: 10% of 50 is 5 (half of 10%), so 20% should be twice that = 10. This mental math check confirms our answer!

Is there a shortcut for finding 20% of any number?

Yes! Since 20% = $\frac{1}{5}$ , you can divide any number by 5 to find 20% of it. For example: 50 ÷ 5 = 10.

What if I need to find a different percentage like 15% or 35%?

Use the same process: convert to decimal first. 15% = 0.15, 35% = 0.35. Then multiply by your number. The method never changes!

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