Calculate 20% of 60: Solving the Percentage Problem

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

Percent means 'per hundred' - so 20% literally means 20 out of 100. Dividing $\frac{20}{100} = 0.2$ gives you the decimal equivalent!

Q: Can I solve this without converting to decimal?

Yes! You can use the fraction method: $\frac{20}{100} \times 60 = \frac{1200}{100} = 12$. Both methods give the same answer.

Q: How do I remember what 'of' means in math?

Think of it this way: 'of' always means multiply. Just like '3 groups of 5' means $3 \times 5$, '20% of 60' means $0.2 \times 60$.

Q: How can I check if my answer makes sense?

Ask yourself: Is my answer smaller than the original number? Since 20% is less than 100%, your answer (12) should be less than 60. It passes the sense test!

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:03 Let's calculate twenty percent of sixty.

00:06 First, we convert twenty percent into a fraction. Remember, percent means out of one hundred.

00:13 So, twenty percent becomes twenty over one hundred.

00:18 Next, we multiply this fraction by sixty to find twenty percent of it.

00:26 Now, let's simplify. Factor and reduce the fraction where possible.

00:34 Great job! You've found the solution.

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

1

Understand the problem

Calculate 20% of 60:

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

Step 1: Convert the given percentage to a decimal.
Step 2: Multiply the decimal value by the whole number given.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: The percentage given is 20%. To convert this percentage to a decimal, divide by 100: $\frac{20}{100} = 0.2$ .
Step 2: We need to find 20% of 60. Multiply 0.2 by 60:
$0.2 \times 60 = 12$

Therefore, 20% of 60 is $12$ .

Comparing with the given choices, the correct answer matches choice 4, which is 12.

3

Final Answer

12

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Convert percentage to decimal by dividing by 100
Technique: Multiply decimal by whole number: $0.2 \times 60 = 12$
Check: Verify 12 is 1/5 of 60 since 20% equals one-fifth ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Adding the percentage to the number instead of multiplying
Don't add 20 + 60 = 80! This completely ignores what 'of' means in mathematics. The word 'of' always means multiplication. Always convert the percentage to decimal first, then multiply by the given number.

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 percentage to decimal?

+

Percent means 'per hundred' - so 20% literally means 20 out of 100. Dividing $\frac{20}{100} = 0.2$ gives you the decimal equivalent!

Can I solve this without converting to decimal?

+

Yes! You can use the fraction method: $\frac{20}{100} \times 60 = \frac{1200}{100} = 12$ . Both methods give the same answer.

How do I remember what 'of' means in math?

+

Think of it this way: 'of' always means multiply. Just like '3 groups of 5' means $3 \times 5$ , '20% of 60' means $0.2 \times 60$ .

What if I get a decimal answer instead of a whole number?

+

That's completely normal! Many percentage problems give decimal answers. For example, 15% of 7 would be $0.15 \times 7 = 1.05$ .

How can I check if my answer makes sense?

+

Ask yourself: Is my answer smaller than the original number? Since 20% is less than 100%, your answer (12) should be less than 60. It passes the sense test!

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Calculate 20% of 60: Solving the Percentage Problem

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