Arithmetic

What is 15% of 240?

Step-by-step solution with explanation

Final Answer

36

Step-by-step solution

1

Convert percent to a decimal

Percent means 'out of 100.' Dividing 15 by 100 gives us the decimal form, which is easier to multiply with.
2

Set up the multiplication

Finding a percent 'of' a number means multiply. We multiply our decimal by 240.
3

Multiply to get the answer

Multiply 15 times 240 to get 3600, then move the decimal point two places left because of the 0.15. That gives us 36.

Understanding this problem

Learning Insight

Percent problems are really just multiplication in disguise. 'Percent' means per hundred, so you're always scaling a number by a fraction of 100. This is why converting to a decimal first makes the arithmetic clean and simple.

Quick Tip

To find 15% quickly, find 10% first (just move the decimal one place left: 24), then find 5% by halving that (12), and add them together: 24 + 12 = 36.

Common Mistake

Students often forget to convert the percent to a decimal and instead multiply by the whole number 15, getting 3600 instead of 36. Always divide by 100 before multiplying.