42 is what percent of 2638 - 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 2638 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 2638, so we can write it down as 100%=2638.
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%=2638
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%=2638/42
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 2638

100%/x%=2638/42
(100/x)*x=(2638/42)*x       - we multiply both sides of the equation by x
100=62.809523809524*x       - we divide both sides of the equation by (62.809523809524) to get x
100/62.809523809524=x
1.5921152388173=x
x=1.5921152388173

now we have:
42 is 1.5921152388173% of 2638