Calculate 4% of 20: A Step-by-Step Approach

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

The percent symbol (%) literally means 'per hundred' or 'out of 100'. So 4% means 4 out of 100, which equals $ \frac{4}{100} = 0.04 $.

Q: Can I use the fraction method instead?

Absolutely! You can calculate $ \frac{4}{100} \times 20 = \frac{80}{100} = 0.8 $. Both the decimal method and fraction method give the same answer.

Q: What if I get confused about which number to multiply?

Remember the pattern: [percentage as decimal] × [whole number]. So for '4% of 20', convert 4% to 0.04, then multiply: 0.04 × 20.

Q: Is there a shortcut for easy percentages?

Yes! For multiples of 10%: 10% of any number is just that number with the decimal moved one place left. So 10% of 20 = 2.0, and 4% would be less than half of that.

Percentage Calculations with Decimal Conversion

Calculate 4% of 20:

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:02 Let's find 4 percent of 20.

00:06 First, use the formula to turn a percentage into a fraction.

00:12 This fraction represents 4 percent.

00:19 Now, multiply that fraction by 20 to get the percentage.

00:28 Next, let's simplify the fraction if we can.

00:39 And here's your answer!

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Calculate 4% of 20:

Step-by-step solution

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

Convert the percentage to a decimal by dividing by 100.
Multiply the decimal by the whole number to find the percentage of that number.

Let's apply these steps:

Step 1: Convert 4% to a decimal.
$4\% = \frac{4}{100} = 0.04$

Step 2: Multiply this decimal by the whole number 20.
$0.04 \times 20 = 0.8$

Therefore, 4% of 20 is $0.8$ .

Final Answer

0.8

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Convert percentages to decimals by dividing by 100
Technique: 4% becomes 0.04, then multiply: 0.04 × 20 = 0.8
Check: Verify using fraction method: $\frac{4}{100} \times 20 = \frac{80}{100} = 0.8$ ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Adding the percent value to the number
Don't add 4 + 20 = 24 thinking that's the answer! Percentages mean 'parts out of 100', not addition. Always multiply the decimal form by the whole number: 0.04 × 20 = 0.8.

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?

The percent symbol (%) literally means 'per hundred' or 'out of 100'. So 4% means 4 out of 100, which equals $\frac{4}{100} = 0.04$ .

Can I use the fraction method instead?

Absolutely! You can calculate $\frac{4}{100} \times 20 = \frac{80}{100} = 0.8$ . Both the decimal method and fraction method give the same answer.

How do I know if 0.8 is reasonable for 4% of 20?

Think logically: 4% is a small percentage, so the answer should be much smaller than 20. Since 0.8 is indeed much smaller than 20, it makes sense!

What if I get confused about which number to multiply?

Remember the pattern: [percentage as decimal] × [whole number]. So for '4% of 20', convert 4% to 0.04, then multiply: 0.04 × 20.

Is there a shortcut for easy percentages?

Yes! For multiples of 10%: 10% of any number is just that number with the decimal moved one place left. So 10% of 20 = 2.0, and 4% would be less than half of that.

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