Question

8% of a number is 20

Answer 1

The number is 250; 20 / .08 = 250.

Answer 2

To find what the number is, we need to set up proportional fractions.
Currently, we have 8% of a number is 20.
To set up our fractions, put 100% under 8% as a fraction first.

It should look like this: 8/100 (hint: per-cent means per-hundred).

Now, we have 20 out of a number, x. This is because we are claiming that 20 is 8% of a number (if we just reword the question without changing the concept).
It should look like this: 20/x.

Our proportional fractions are:
20/x = 8/100.

To solve for this, we need to cross-multiply the denominator of 8/100 (bottom number, 100) with the numerator of 20/x (top number, 20).

This product equation should look like this:
20 x 100 (when simplified, we get 2000).

Now, we need to cross multiply the numerator of 8/100 (top number, 8) with the denominator of 20/x (bottom number, x).

This product equation should look like this:
8x.

Now that we've cross-multiplied, set our two products as an equation.

8x = 2000.

To solve for x, divide both sides by 8 (remember, what you do to one side of an equation, you must do it to the other).

8x / 8 = x
2000 / 8 = 250.

x = 250

Your final answer is:

8% of 250 is 20.

I hope this helps!