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Converting a percentage to a decimal is an essential skill in mathematics. It's needed for tasks like calculating part of a whole, understanding discounts, and solving various types of problems. Here’s how you can do it. To convert a percentage to a decimal, you simply divide by 100. This process essentially shifts the decimal point two places to the left. So, for example, converting 74%:

• Start with the percentage value: 74%
• Divide by 100: \( 74 \div 100 = 0.74 \)

Now, you have the decimal form of the percentage, which is 0.74. This conversion is crucial because it converts the percentage into a form that can be easily used for further calculations like multiplication or addition.

Multiplying decimals might sound tricky, but it's actually straightforward once you know the steps. This is a necessary skill when dealing with various mathematical problems involving money, measurements, and statistics. For instance, to find 74% of 53, you need to multiply the decimal converted from the percentage by the number (in this case, 53). Here’s how to do it:

• Start with the decimal form of the percentage: 0.74
• Multiply by the number: \( 0.74 \times 53 \)

This multiplication can be performed either manually or using a calculator. When doing it manually, align the numbers by their decimal points and proceed as though you are multiplying whole numbers. After multiplying, ensure the decimal point in the result is correctly placed by counting the total number of decimal places in the numbers being multiplied. The final result here is 39.22.

Solving equations is a fundamental concept in algebra that involves finding the value of unknown variables or confirming a specific mathematical condition. Even though finding a percentage of a number is straightforward, it encapsulates the essence of setting up and solving equations. Here, the problem 'What is 74% of 53?' translates to the equation \( 0.74 \times 53 = x \), where you solve for x.
Let’s break it down:

• First, convert the percentage to a decimal: 74% = 0.74
• Next, set up the equation: \( 0.74 \times 53 = x \)
• Finally, solve for x by performing the multiplication: \( 0.74 \times 53 = 39.22 \)

The value of x is 39.22. This operation shows that 74% of 53 equals 39.22. Understanding this form of algebra helps in solving various other types of equation-based problems you will encounter in higher mathematics.