Step by step
The question
Question: 8 is 2% of what number?
2% of ? = 8
We write it like this: 2% of the number is 8.
8 is a part.
The whole number is what we want.
? = the whole number
Careful!
Many people work out 2% of 8.
But 8 is not the whole.
It is only 2% of it.
Careful: not 2% of 8 ✗
1 Find 1%
2% is 2 lots of 1%.
So we find 1% first.
2% = 2 × 1%
1% is 8 divided by 2: 4.
1% of ? = 8 ÷ 2 = 4
2 Find 100%
The whole number is 100%: 100 lots of 1%.
100% = the whole
4 times 100 is 400.
100% of ? = 4 × 100 = 400
So 8 is 2% of 400.
3 Check
Let's check: is 2% of 400 really 8?
2% is 2/100.
Of means times.
2% of 400 = 2100 × 400
400 divided by 100 is 4.
2 times 4 is 8.
= 2 × 4 = 8 (400 ÷ 100 = 4)
We get 8.
So it is right!
Let's look back.
First: find 1%.
Then: find 100%.
Last: check.
Answer
100% of ? = 4 × 100 = 400