42 is what percent of 83.5 - 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 83.5 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 83.5, so we can write it down as 100%=83.5.
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%=83.5
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%=83.5/42
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 83.5

100%/x%=83.5/42
(100/x)*x=(83.5/42)*x       - we multiply both sides of the equation by x
100=1.9880952380952*x       - we divide both sides of the equation by (1.9880952380952) to get x
100/1.9880952380952=x
50.299401197605=x
x=50.299401197605

now we have:
42 is 50.299401197605% of 83.5