% and algebraic expressions.

amelia

New member
Joined
May 14, 2011
Messages
6
I have been working on algebra after being out of school over 32 years. I feel like I am drowning in information. I am asked to write an algebraic expression. The question is that 25% of my budget is to be spent on space and utilities. The budget total is $119,350. I have searched my text, but am lost as to what section this would pertain to? Thanks for any help... :?:
 
Keep in mind that "%" is "parts per hundred". 16%, then -- whatever it is you have, chop it up into 100 pieces and take 16 of them.

It is VERY convenient that our numbering system is Base 10 Positional. This means that we antrually write "hundreths" when expressing a fraction.

"73 hundreths" is "0.73" and of course, this is the same as 73%

To your problem: 119350 - chop it up into 100 pieces. 119350 / 100 = 1193.50 and take 25 of them 25 * 1193.50 = 29837.5 -- Done.

As some point, you should see this as exactly the same as \(\displaystyle 119350\cdot\frac{25}{100} = 119350\cdot 0.25\)
 
amelia said:
I have been working on algebra after being out of school over 32 years. I feel like I am drowning in information. I am asked to write an algebraic expression. The question is that

25% of my budget is to be spent on space and utilities. The budget total is $119,350. I have searched my text, but am lost as to what section this would pertain to? Thanks for any help... :?:

Would it have more sense to you if the problem stated:

one-quarter of my budget is to be spent on space and utilities.
 
Top