Understanding Percentages: Calculating 5 of 500 and 5 of 1500

Working with percentages can often be a fundamental aspect of arithmetic and can help us understand proportions and relationships between numbers. This article will delve into the calculation of percentages, specifically focusing on the values 5 of 500 and 5 of 1500. By using the appropriate formulas, we can easily determine these values.

What is a Percentage?

A percentage is a way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100, often denoted by the symbol '%' (percent). The term 'percent' comes from the Latin 'per centum,' meaning 'per hundred.' When we say 5 is one percent of 500, this means 5 is 1/100th of 500.

Calculating 5 of 500

Let's start by calculating 5 of 500. We can use the formula:

Percentage (Percent / 100) × Total

Substituting the given values:

5 of 500 (5 / 100) × 500 0.05 × 500 25

Therefore, 5 of 500 is 25. This demonstrates that the percentage calculation is a straightforward process, and the formula can be applied consistently.

Calculating 5 of 1500

Next, we'll calculate 5 of 1500 using the same formula:

Percentage (Percent / 100) × Total

Substituting the given values:

5 of 1500 (5 / 100) × 1500 0.05 × 1500 75

Therefore, 5 of 1500 is 75. This calculation illustrates how the percentage of a larger number (1500 compared to 500) results in a proportionally larger outcome.

Alternative Methods for Percentage Calculation

While the percentage formula is the most direct method, there are alternative ways to express the same concept:

x of 500 5 or x × 500 5 Solving for x, we get:

x 5 / 500 1 / 100 0.01

This means 5 is 1/100th (1%) of 500.

Using the formula: percentage (part / whole) × 100 For 5 / 500:

percentage (5 / 500) × 100 1

Therefore, 5 is 1% of 500.

Another method is to use a simple equation: 500 × x 5 Solving for x:

x 5 / 500 1 / 100 0.01

Hence, 5 of 500 is 1% (0.01).

Conclusion

Calculating percentages can be made simple with the right formulas and methods. Whether it's 5 of 500 or 5 of 1500, understanding the underlying principles and applying the appropriate calculations ensures accurate results. Mastery of percentage calculations can help in various fields, from mathematics to finance and beyond.