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6th grade

Course: 6th grade > Unit 3

Lesson 6: Percent word problems
Math
6th grade
Rates and percentages
Percent word problems
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Rates and percentages FAQ

Google Classroom
Frequently asked questions about rates and percentages

What is a rate?

A rate is a comparison of two quantities that have different units. For example, if we say that a bus travels 240 kilometers in 15 hours, we are comparing kilometers and hours. We can write this rate as start fraction, 240, start text, space, k, m, end text, divided by, 15, start text, space, h, o, u, r, s, end text, end fraction or 240 kilometers per 15 hours. Rates tell us how fast, how often, or how much something happens.

What is a unit rate?

A unit rate is a special kind of rate that compares a quantity to one unit of another quantity. For example, if we want to know how many kilometers the bus travels in one hour, we can divide the total distance by 15. We get start fraction, 240, start text, space, k, m, end text, divided by, 15, start text, space, h, o, u, r, s, end text, end fraction, equals, start fraction, 16, start text, space, k, m, end text, divided by, 1, start text, space, h, o, u, r, end text, end fraction. This is a unit rate, and we can write it as 16 kilometers per hour. Unit rates tell us the amount of one quantity for every one unit of another quantity.

What is a percent?

A percent is a way of expressing a part of a whole as a fraction out of 100. For example, if 2 salmon survive to adulthood out of 100 salmon who hatched, we can write this as start fraction, 2, divided by, 100, end fraction or 2, percent. The symbol percent means "out of 100" or "per 100". Percents tell us how much of something is in a group or a whole.

How can we visualize percentages?

We can use different models to help us see what percentages mean. One common model is a 100-grid, which is a square divided into 100 smaller squares. Each small square represents 1. For example, if we shade 25 squares out of 100, we can see that this is the same as 25, percent of the whole square.
Another common model is a circle graph or a pie chart, which is a circle divided into parts that show the percentages of a whole. Each part of the circle represents a percentage of the whole circle. For example, if we cut a circle into 4 equal parts, each part is 25, percent of the circle.

How can we find equivalent representations of percent problems?

Sometimes, we can use different ways to represent the same percent problem. For example, if we want to find 30, percent of 50, we can use a fraction, a decimal, or a ratio. Here are some equivalent representations of 30, percent of 50:
30%×50=30100×50=1530%×50=310×50=1530%×50=0.3×50=15\begin{aligned} 30\% \times 50 &= \dfrac{30}{100} \times 50 \\\\ &= 15\\\\ 30\% \times 50 &= \dfrac{3}{10} \times 50 \\\\ &= 15\\\\ 30\% \times 50 &= 0.3 \times 50 \\\\ &= 15 \end{aligned}
We can also use the formula start text, p, a, r, t, end text, equals, start text, p, e, r, c, e, n, t, end text, times, start text, w, h, o, l, e, end text to find any missing value in a percent problem. For example, if we know that 15 is 30, percent of some number, we can use the formula to find the number:
15=30%×number15=0.3×number15÷0.3=numberRewrite as division equation.50=number\begin{aligned} 15 &= 30\% \times \text{number}\\\\ 15 &= 0.3 \times \text{number}\\\\ {15}\div{0.3} &= \text{number}&\text{Rewrite as division equation.}\\\\ 50 &= \text{number} \end{aligned}

Where are rates, unit rates, and percents used in the real world?

Rates, unit rates, and percents are used in many situations in the real world, such as:
  • Comparing prices of different items or services that have different units, such as dollars per pound, miles per gallon, or minutes per call. Unit rates help us find the best deal or the most efficient option.
  • Calculating tips, taxes, discounts, interest, or commissions that are based on percentages of amounts. Percents help us find how much we pay or earn in different situations.
  • Analyzing data, statistics, or surveys that show the percentages of different categories, groups, or outcomes. Percents help us understand and compare the information in different ways.

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