Basic Mathematics for College Students

538 Chapter 6 Percent







To isolate xon the right side of the equation,

divide both sides by 240.

To simplify the fraction on the right side of the

equation, remove the common factor of 240

from the numerator and denominator. On the

left side, divide 11.04 by 240.

To write the decimal 0.046 as a percent,

multiply it by 100 by moving the decimal point

two places to the right, and then insert a % symbol.

The withholding tax rate was 4.6%.

The percent proportion method:Since the withholding tax of $11.04 is some

unknown percent of her weekly gross earnings of $240, the percent sentence is:

is of

This is the percent proportion to solve.

To solve the proportion, find the cross products and set

them equal.

To simplify the left side of the equation, do the

multiplication: 11.04  100 1,104.

To isolate xon the right side, divide both

sides of the equation by 240. Then remove

the common factor of 240 from the

numerator and denominator.

On the left side, divide 1,104 by 240.

The withholding tax rate was 4.6%.

4.6x

1,104

240



240

1

x

240

1

1,104 240 x

11.04 100  240 x

11.04

240



x

100

amount percent base

$11.04 what percent $240?

4.6%x

0 04 .6%x

0.046x

0.046

x 240

1

240

1

11.04

240



x 240

240

0.046

(^240)  11.0400
 0
11 04
 960
1 440
 1 440
0

4.6
240  1,104.0
 960
144 0
 144 0
0
2 Calculate commissions and commission rates.
Instead of working for a salary or getting paid at an hourly rate, many salespeople are
paid on commission.They earn a certain percent of the total dollar amount of the
goods or services that they sell. The following formula to calculate a commission is
based on the percent equation discussed in Section 6.2.
Finding the Commission
The amount of commission paid is a percent of the total dollar sales of goods
or services.
Commissioncommission ratesales
amount = percent base