1. ## Math Problem Help!

Can someone please explain to me how to solve these two problems:

4 1/4% of (?) = 8.5

2/3% of (?) = 33.3

Please show your work and explain in detail so I'm able to solve my self without a calculator. Thanks!

2. Originally Posted by student82
Can someone please explain to me how to solve these two problems:

4 1/4% of (?) = 8.5

2/3% of (?) = 33.3

Please show your work and explain in detail so I'm able to solve my self without a calculator. Thanks!
i will do the second, i leave the first to you.

remember, "%" means "out of 100" or "over 100" and "of" means multiply.

thus, 2/3% of x = 33.3 is the same as saying 2/3 *(1/100) * x = 33.3

that is, 2/300 * x = 33.3

multiplying by 300 then dividing by 2 we get x = 4995

now do the first and type what you get

3. 4 1/4 = 17/4

17/4*(1/100) * x = 8.5

17/400 * x = 8.5

400 * 8.5 = 3400

3400 divided by 17 = 200!

THANK YOU!!!

On the problem you did my answer key is telling me the answer is 5000 and when I used your same method on the problem I did I came up with the correct answer on my answer key. Do you think it's a typo on my practice test? It gives me multiple choice and the answers in the back. On your problem it gives me A. 5000, B. 400, C. 600, D. 1000 & the answer key says A is the correct answer.

4. Originally Posted by student82
4 1/4 = 17/4

17/4*(1/100) * x = 8.5

17/400 * x = 8.5

400 * 8.5 = 3400

3400 divided by 17 = 200!

THANK YOU!!!

On the problem you did my answer key is telling me the answer is 5000 and when I used your same method on the problem I did I came up with the correct answer on my answer key. Do you think it's a typo on my practice test? It gives me multiple choice and the answers in the back. On your problem it gives me A. 5000, B. 400, C. 600, D. 1000 & the answer key says A is the correct answer.
4% of 5000 is 200 so 4 1/4% of 500 can't be 8.5. More precisely, 4 1/4 % of 5000 is 212.5 not 8.5.

5. Originally Posted by HallsofIvy
4% of 5000 is 200 so 4 1/4% of 500 can't be 8.5. More precisely, 4 1/4 % of 5000 is 212.5 not 8.5.
Your correct, I understand exactly what your saying. However, your confusing my statement with another problem that Jhevon solved for me. For the problem 4 1/4% of (?) = 8.5 the answer is 200, For the problem Jhevon solved and explained for me: 2/3% of (?) = 33.3 Jhevon came up with the answer of 4995 and my answer key is saying it's 5000.

6. Originally Posted by student82
Your correct, I understand exactly what your saying. However, your confusing my statement with another problem that Jhevon solved for me. For the problem 4 1/4% of (?) = 8.5 the answer is 200, For the problem Jhevon solved and explained for me: 2/3% of (?) = 33.3 Jhevon came up with the answer of 4995 and my answer key is saying it's 5000.
That's probably because 33.3, as given, is an approximation and should be $33.\bar{3}$ (repeating decimal) or $33\frac{1}{3}$. If you use either of these you will get 5000 as your answer.

01