Step by step
The question
Question: 9 is 10% of what number?
10% of ? = 9
We write it like this: 10% of the number is 9.
9 is a part.
The whole number is what we want.
? = the whole number
Careful!
Many people work out 10% of 9.
But 9 is not the whole.
It is only 10% of it.
Careful: not 10% of 9 ✗
1 Write the percent as a fraction
Percent means out of 100.
So 10% is 10/100.
10% = 10100
10 and 100 can both be divided by 10.
So 10% is 1/10: 1 of 10 equal parts.
= 10 ÷ 10100 ÷ 10 = 110
2 Draw the whole
One part is 9.
So every part is 9.
3 Find the whole
The whole is 10 parts.
10 times 9 is 90.
10 parts = 10 × 9 = 90
So 9 is 10% of 90.
4 Check
Let's check: is 10% of 90 really 9?
10% is 1/10.
Of means times.
90 divided by 10 is 9.
10% of 90 = 110 × 90 = 9 (90 ÷ 10 = 9)
We get 9.
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
10 parts = 10 × 9 = 90