What is 86.5 percent of 42 - 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 42 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 42 is 100%, so we can write it down as 42=100%.
4. We know, that x is 86.5% of the output value, so we can write it down as x=86.5%.
5. Now we have two simple equations:
1) 42=100%
2) x=86.5%
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:
42/x=100%/86.5%
6. Now we just have to solve the simple equation, and we will get the solution we are looking for.

7. Solution for what is 86.5% of 42

42/x=100/86.5
(42/x)*x=(100/86.5)*x       - we multiply both sides of the equation by x
42=1.1560693641618*x       - we divide both sides of the equation by (1.1560693641618) to get x
42/1.1560693641618=x
36.33=x
x=36.33

now we have:
86.5% of 42=36.33