38.5 is what percent of 42.5 - 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 42.5 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 42.5, so we can write it down as 100%=42.5.
4. We know, that x% equals 38.5 of the output value, so we can write it down as x%=38.5.
5. Now we have two simple equations:
1) 100%=42.5
2) x%=38.5
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:
100%/x%=42.5/38.5
6. Now we just have to solve the simple equation, and we will get the solution we are looking for.

7. Solution for 38.5 is what percent of 42.5

100%/x%=42.5/38.5
(100/x)*x=(42.5/38.5)*x       - we multiply both sides of the equation by x
100=1.1038961038961*x       - we divide both sides of the equation by (1.1038961038961) to get x
100/1.1038961038961=x
90.588235294118=x
x=90.588235294118

now we have:
38.5 is 90.588235294118% of 42.5