What is 30% of 270? A Simple Percentage Calculation Explained
Finding a percentage of a number is a fundamental mathematical skill with widespread applications in everyday life, from calculating discounts and sales tax to understanding financial reports and data analysis. This guide will walk you through how to calculate 30% of 270, and provide some helpful context for understanding percentage calculations in general.
Understanding Percentages
A percentage is a fraction or ratio expressed as a number out of 100. The symbol "%" represents "per cent," meaning "out of one hundred." So, 30% means 30 out of 100, or 30/100, which simplifies to 3/10.
Calculating 30% of 270
There are two main ways to calculate 30% of 270:
Method 1: Using Decimal Conversion
This method involves converting the percentage to a decimal and then multiplying it by the number.
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Convert the percentage to a decimal: To convert 30% to a decimal, divide by 100: 30 / 100 = 0.30
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Multiply the decimal by the number: Multiply 0.30 by 270: 0.30 * 270 = 81
Therefore, 30% of 270 is .
Method 2: Using Fractions
This method involves converting the percentage to a fraction and then multiplying it by the number.
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Convert the percentage to a fraction: As mentioned earlier, 30% is equal to 30/100, which simplifies to 3/10.
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Multiply the fraction by the number: Multiply 3/10 by 270: (3/10) * 270 = 81
Again, we find that 30% of 270 is .
Practical Applications and Further Exploration
Understanding percentage calculations is crucial in many real-world scenarios. For example:
- Sales and Discounts: If an item is 30% off, and its original price is $270, you'd save $81.
- Tax Calculations: If a sales tax is 30%, you'd pay an additional $81 on a $270 purchase.
- Data Analysis: Percentages are frequently used to represent proportions and changes in data sets.
By mastering this basic percentage calculation, you equip yourself with a valuable tool for navigating numerous situations involving proportions and ratios. You can apply the same methods to calculate any percentage of any number. Simply replace the percentage and the number with your desired values and follow the steps outlined above.
