Brain Train

[Indilia]

What is 234 divided by40%?

[JJ109]

234 /40% = 234 / (40/100)
= 234 * 100 /40
=585

[Tilly2]

25

[Tilly2]

^ Sorry... 2.5

[Tilly2]

I did 40% of 234 = 93.6

234 divided by 93.6 = 2.5

[JJ109]

Why did you do that Tilly?
Tilly if you are dividing by 40% you are dividing by 0.4
234 / 0.4
The answer must be greater than 234
234 / 0.4 = 585

[Tilly2]

So dividing 234 by 40% make it bigger?

I thought you had to divide it by 93.6, which is 40% of 234.

[ducksie]

if you're dividing your gonna get a smaller number, I got 2.5

[Tilly2]

P.S. I didn't teach Maths but I did get 'O'
level Maths :-)

(Not sure how that happened)...;-)

[Tilly2]

Not just me then, Ducksie...

[JJ109]

Provided the percentage is not greater than 100%, when you divide by it the answer will be greater. When you multiply the answer will be smaller.

100 x 25% = 25
100 / 25% = 400

[aelmpvw]

ie 25% = a quarter so there are 400 quarters in 100

[JJ109]

^^ In the above example 25% = 1/4
Therefore how many quarters are there in ONE, answer 4
Therefore how many quarters are there in 100?
Answer 100 x 4 = 400

[ducksie]

I don't understand how that can be jj109 but online calculator gives me 585

I was never good at numbers tilly (I did get a high grade in my state exams though - was all x and y's though)

[Tilly2]

Thank you, JJ. Strange isn't it then usually when you divide a number it becomes smaller?

I know you are correct but I do not understand how that works.
Thanks for helping me out, JJ.

[JJ109]

Thanks ael. you just beat me to that!

[ducksie]

thanks ael and jj, I'm off for a lie down :)

[Tilly2]

I really wish that I hadn't answered this question. I feel such a fool.

[JJ109]

You're most welcome Tilly and Ducksie - time for my snooze too!

[Tilly2]

I do know what 50% off means though. :-)

That'll do me.

[Prudie]

The question is meaningless anyway, you can't divide by a percentage. 40% of what??
Either you read it as 234 divided by 40/100 as JJ has and get 585
Or
Read like you would at school - how many 40% are there in 234 which gives the lofical answer of 2.5 -whatever number you start with