Step by step
The question
Question: 6 is 50% of what number?
50% of ? = 6
We write it like this: 50% of the number is 6.
6 is a part.
The whole number is what we want.
? = the whole number
Careful!
Many people work out 50% of 6.
But 6 is not the whole.
It is only 50% of it.
Careful: not 50% of 6 ✗
1 Write the percent as a fraction
Percent means out of 100.
So 50% is 50/100.
50% = 50100
50 and 100 can both be divided by 50.
So 50% is 1/2: 1 of 2 equal parts.
= 50 ÷ 50100 ÷ 50 = 12
2 Draw the whole
One part is 6.
So every part is 6.
3 Find the whole
The whole is 2 parts.
2 times 6 is 12.
2 parts = 2 × 6 = 12
So 6 is 50% of 12.
4 Check
Let's check: is 50% of 12 really 6?
50% is 1/2.
Of means times.
12 divided by 2 is 6.
50% of 12 = 12 × 12 = 6 (12 ÷ 2 = 6)
We get 6.
So it is right!
Let's look back.
First: write the percent as a fraction.
Then: draw the whole.
Then: find the whole.
Last: check.
Answer
2 parts = 2 × 6 = 12