42 is what percent of 1988 - 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 1988 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 1988, so we can write it down as 100%=1988.
4. We know, that x% equals 42 of the output value, so we can write it down as x%=42.
5. Now we have two simple equations:
1) 100%=1988
2) x%=42
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%=1988/42
6. Now we just have to solve the simple equation, and we will get the solution we are looking for.

7. Solution for 42 is what percent of 1988

100%/x%=1988/42
(100/x)*x=(1988/42)*x       - we multiply both sides of the equation by x
100=47.333333333333*x       - we divide both sides of the equation by (47.333333333333) to get x
100/47.333333333333=x
2.112676056338=x
x=2.112676056338

now we have:
42 is 2.112676056338% of 1988