17.5 is what percent of 86.5 - step by step solution

To get the solution, we are looking for, we need to point out what we know.

1. We assume, that the number 86.5 is 100% - because it's the output value of the task.
2. We assume, that x is the value we are looking for.
3. If 100% equals 86.5, so we can write it down as 100%=86.5.
4. We know, that x% equals 17.5 of the output value, so we can write it down as x%=17.5.
5. Now we have two simple equations:
1) 100%=86.5
2) x%=17.5
where left sides of both of them have the same units, and both right sides have the same units, so we can do something like that:
100%/x%=86.5/17.5
6. Now we just have to solve the simple equation, and we will get the solution we are looking for.

7. Solution for 17.5 is what percent of 86.5

100%/x%=86.5/17.5
(100/x)*x=(86.5/17.5)*x       - we multiply both sides of the equation by x
100=4.9428571428571*x       - we divide both sides of the equation by (4.9428571428571) to get x
100/4.9428571428571=x
20.231213872832=x
x=20.231213872832

now we have:
17.5 is 20.231213872832% of 86.5