Basic Mathematics for College Students

6.2 Solving Percent Problems Using Percent Equations and Proportions 529

“When the history of American higher education is updated years from now, the

story of our current times will highlight the pivotal role community colleges played

in developing human capital and bolstering the nation’s educational system.”

Community College Survey of Student Engagement, 2007

More than 310,000 students responded to the 2007 Community College Survey

of Student Engagement. Some results are shown below. Study each circle

graph and then complete its legend.

THINK IT THROUGH Community College Students

Community College Students

Who Work More Than 20

Hours per Week

Enrollment in

Community Colleges

Community College

Students Who Discussed

Their Grades or Assignments

with an Instructor

64% are enrolled in college

part time.

?

57% of the students work more than

20 hours per week.

?

45% often or very often

45% sometimes

?

1. a. or b. or c. or


2. 144 3.192.72 4.5% 5.56.25% 6.170% 7. 60 8. 225 9.800 people
   10.31 states

4

x

172

172%x (^4100)
6
55 
x
x 55  (^6100)
x
80 
33
x33% (^80100)
ANSWERS TO SELF CHECKS
SECTION 6.2 STUDY SET

VOCABULARY

Fill in the blanks.

1. We call “What number is 15% of 25?” a percent
   . It translates to the percent
   .


2. The key words in a percent sentence translate as
   follows:
   
   
   • translates to an equal symbol 
   
   
   • translates to multiplication that is shown with
     a raised dot 
   
   
   • numberor percenttranslates to an
     unknown number that is represented by a variable.
   
   
   
   


3. When we find the value of the variable that makes a
   percent equation true, we say that we have
   the equation.


4. In the percent sentence “45 is 90% of 50,” 45 is the
   , 90% is the percent, and 50 is the.

x15% 25

5. The amount is of the base. The base is the
   standard of comparison—it represents the
   of some quantity.


6. a.Amount is to base as percent is to 100:

b. Part is to whole as percent is to 100:

7. The products for the proportion are
   and.


8. In a graph, pie-shaped wedges are used to
   show the division of a whole quantity into its
   component parts.

24  100 x 36

24

x

36

100

part



100

base



percent