42 is what percent of 239.5 - 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 239.5 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 239.5, so we can write it down as 100%=239.5.
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%=239.5
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%=239.5/42
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 239.5

100%/x%=239.5/42
(100/x)*x=(239.5/42)*x       - we multiply both sides of the equation by x
100=5.702380952381*x       - we divide both sides of the equation by (5.702380952381) to get x
100/5.702380952381=x
17.536534446764=x
x=17.536534446764

now we have:
42 is 17.536534446764% of 239.5