3 is 20 of what number?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to determine what number 3 is 20 percent of. To solve this, we will use the formula that relates a part to the whole using percentages.
Answer
$15$
Answer for screen readers
The number that 3 is 20 percent of is $15$.
Steps to Solve
- Set Up the Equation
We know that 20 percent can be expressed as the fraction $\frac{20}{100}$ or $0.20$. We want to find a number $x$ such that $20%$ of $x$ equals $3$. This leads us to the equation: $$ 0.20 \cdot x = 3 $$
- Isolate the Variable
To find $x$, we need to isolate it in the equation. We can do this by dividing both sides by $0.20$: $$ x = \frac{3}{0.20} $$
- Calculate the Result
Now perform the division: $$ x = \frac{3}{0.20} = 3 \div 0.20 = 15 $$
The number that 3 is 20 percent of is $15$.
More Information
When calculating percentages, it’s important to convert the percentage to a decimal form to simplify the arithmetic. In this case, $20%$ was converted to $0.20$ to find the whole number.
Tips
- Forgetting to convert the percentage to a decimal, which can lead to incorrect calculations.
- Not isolating the variable properly when rearranging the equation.
