What is 20 percent of 85 - 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 85 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 85 is 100%, so we can write it down as 85=100%.
4. We know, that x is 20% of the output value, so we can write it down as x=20%.
5. Now we have two simple equations:
1) 85=100%
2) x=20%
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:
85/x=100%/20%
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 20% of 85

85/x=100/20
(85/x)*x=(100/20)*x       - we multiply both sides of the equation by x
85=5*x       - we divide both sides of the equation by (5) to get x
85/5=x
17=x
x=17

now we have:
20% of 85=17