16 is 40% of what number?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for a number such that 40% of it equals 16. We will solve for this number by setting up the equation: 0.4 * x = 16, and then solving for x.
Answer
$x = 40$
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is ( x = 40 ).
Steps to Solve
- Set up the equation
We start with the equation that translates the problem statement, where 40% of a number ( x ) equals 16. This can be represented as:
$$ 0.4 \cdot x = 16 $$
- Isolate ( x )
To solve for ( x ), we need to isolate it on one side of the equation. We can do this by dividing both sides of the equation by 0.4:
$$ x = \frac{16}{0.4} $$
- Calculate the division
Now, we perform the division to find the value of ( x ):
$$ x = \frac{16}{0.4} = 40 $$
The final answer is ( x = 40 ).
More Information
The problem demonstrates how to set up and solve a simple linear equation. Understanding percentages as decimals helps in translating the problem into a solvable mathematical expression.
Tips
- Forgetting to convert the percentage: A common error is not converting the percentage (40%) into its decimal form (0.4). Always remember to convert percentages to decimals when solving.
- Miscalculating the division: Be careful with the division step, as errors in basic arithmetic can lead to incorrect values for ( x ).
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