Skill: Interpret percent as per hundred

A percent tells how many parts there are out of 100. The word percent means “per hundred.”

For example:

$$25\%=\frac{25}{100}=0.25$$

This means 25 parts out of every 100 parts, or one-fourth of a whole.

Example: A class has 40 students. $(25\%)$ of the students walk to school. How many students walk?

1. Identify the whole: the whole is 40 students.

2. Interpret the percent:

$$25\%=\frac{25}{100}=0.25$$

3. Find $(25\%)$ of 40:

$$0.25\times 40=10$$

4. State the answer with units: 10 students walk to school.

Remember, $(25\%)$ is the rate or part out of 100. The 10 students is the amount that the percent describes.