Step by step
The question
Question: 12 is 6% of what number?
6% of ? = 12
We write it like this: 6% of the number is 12.
12 is a part.
The whole number is what we want.
? = the whole number
Careful!
Many people work out 6% of 12.
But 12 is not the whole.
It is only 6% of it.
Careful: not 6% of 12 ✗
1 Find 1%
6% is 6 lots of 1%.
So we find 1% first.
6% = 6 × 1%
1% is 12 divided by 6: 2.
1% of ? = 12 ÷ 6 = 2
2 Find 100%
The whole number is 100%: 100 lots of 1%.
100% = the whole
2 times 100 is 200.
100% of ? = 2 × 100 = 200
So 12 is 6% of 200.
3 Check
Let's check: is 6% of 200 really 12?
6% is 6/100.
Of means times.
6% of 200 = 6100 × 200
200 divided by 100 is 2.
6 times 2 is 12.
= 6 × 2 = 12 (200 ÷ 100 = 2)
We get 12.
So it is right!
Let's look back.
First: find 1%.
Then: find 100%.
Last: check.
Answer
100% of ? = 2 × 100 = 200