Solve the Percentage Equation: Finding 8% of 50

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

Percent means "per hundred" - so 8% literally means 8 out of 100, or $ \frac{8}{100} $. Dividing by 100 converts this to the decimal 0.08.

Q: Can I use fractions instead of decimals?

Absolutely! You can calculate $ \frac{8}{100} \times 50 = \frac{8 \times 50}{100} = \frac{400}{100} = 4 $. Both methods give the same answer!

Q: How do I know if my percentage answer is reasonable?

Use benchmark percentages! Since 10% of 50 is 5, then 8% should be slightly less than 5. Our answer of 4 makes perfect sense.

Q: Do I always multiply when finding a percentage of a number?

Yes! Finding "percentage OF a number" always means multiplication. The word "of" in math typically signals multiplication.

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:02 Let's find out what 8 percent of 50 is.

00:06 First, let's convert 8 percent into a fraction by writing it as 8 over 100.

00:12 So, 8 percent is the same as 8 divided by 100.

00:16 Now, to find 8 percent of 50, we multiply 50 by our fraction, 8 over 100.

00:25 Let's simplify this: 50 times 8 equals 400, then divide by 100. This reduces to 4.

00:33 And there we have it! 8 percent of 50 equals 4.

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

1

Understand the problem

Calculate 8% of 50:

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 this decimal by the whole number.
Step 3: Simplify and confirm the result.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: Convert $8\%$ to a decimal by dividing by 100:
$8\% = \frac{8}{100} = 0.08$

Step 2: Multiply the decimal $0.08$ by the whole number $50$ :
$0.08 \times 50 = 4$

Step 3: The result is already simplified, so we conclude the value of $8\%$ of $50$ is $4$ .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $4$ , which corresponds to choice $3$ .

3

Final Answer

4

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: $0.08 \times 50 = 4$
Check: Verify answer makes sense: 8% should be less than 10% (which is 5) ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Forgetting to convert percentage to decimal
Don't multiply 8 × 50 = 400! This treats the percentage as a whole number instead of a fraction. Always convert the percentage to decimal first by dividing by 100.

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?

+

Percent means "per hundred" - so 8% literally means 8 out of 100, or $\frac{8}{100}$ . Dividing by 100 converts this to the decimal 0.08.

Can I use fractions instead of decimals?

+

Absolutely! You can calculate $\frac{8}{100} \times 50 = \frac{8 \times 50}{100} = \frac{400}{100} = 4$ . Both methods give the same answer!

How do I know if my percentage answer is reasonable?

+

Use benchmark percentages! Since 10% of 50 is 5, then 8% should be slightly less than 5. Our answer of 4 makes perfect sense.

What if I need to find what percentage one number is of another?

+

That's the reverse! Divide the part by the whole, then multiply by 100. For example: $\frac{4}{50} \times 100 = 8\%$

Do I always multiply when finding a percentage of a number?

+

Yes! Finding "percentage OF a number" always means multiplication. The word "of" in math typically signals multiplication.

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Percentage questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

Solve the Percentage Equation: Finding 8% of 50

Percentage Calculations with Decimal Conversion

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!