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A percentage is a way to express a number as a fraction of 100. It is a useful concept because it allows us to easily compare different values or assess proportions. For instance, saying that 14% of something gives us a clear indication that we are dealing with 14 parts out of 100. This makes percentages universally understandable and convenient for various calculations.

When we say '14%', it means '14 per 100'. It helps solve questions like figuring out how much of a total quantity a given percentage represents. This might involve real-world scenarios such as calculating discounts, interest rates, or in this case, the length of a certain part of a 220-feet distance. To simplify calculations, we often convert percentages to decimals.

To convert a percentage into a decimal, you need to divide the percentage by 100. This conversion is crucial because it simplifies mathematical operations, especially multiplication. In our problem, 14% needs to be turned into a decimal.

Here’s how you do it:

• Take the percentage number (14 in this case).
• Divide it by 100: \( \frac{14}{100} = 0.14 \).

Now, you have 0.14, which is the decimal equivalent of 14%. Such conversions are handy whenever you need to determine the part of a whole represented by a percentage. Once you have the decimal form, calculations become straightforward, as decimals are more precise in arithmetic operations.

Once you have converted the percentage to a decimal, the next step is to find the actual value that the percentage represents out of a total. The way to do this is via multiplication. This is a fundamental concept in percentage calculations.

In the exercise, we need to find what 14% of 220 feet means in actual feet. With the following steps, we use multiplication:

• Take the decimal form of the percentage: 0.14.
• Multiply by the total or whole amount: \( 0.14 \times 220 \).
• The result of this calculation gives you the value of that percentage in feet, which is 30.8 feet.

By multiplying, we're simply scaling down the whole into manageable parts. This step is crucial as it provides the precise measurement or quantity that the percentage represents.