72 is what percent of 400 - 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 400 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 400, so we can write it down as 100%=400.
4. We know, that x% equals 72 of the output value, so we can write it down as x%=72.
5. Now we have two simple equations:
1) 100%=400
2) x%=72
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%=400/72
6. Now we just have to solve the simple equation, and we will get the solution we are looking for.

7. Solution for 72 is what percent of 400

100%/x%=400/72
(100/x)*x=(400/72)*x       - we multiply both sides of the equation by x
100=5.55555555556*x       - we divide both sides of the equation by (5.55555555556) to get x
100/5.55555555556=x
18=x
x=18

now we have:
72 is 18% of 400