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Understanding how to convert a percentage to a decimal is a fundamental skill in mathematics. To perform this conversion, all you need to do is divide the percentage by 100.
For instance, if you are given a percentage like 6.5%, you would divide 6.5 by 100 to get 0.065.
This process allows you to work easily with percentages in various calculations, as decimals are more convenient for multiplication and addition.
Here’s a simple way to remember it:

• Move the decimal point two places to the left. This is equivalent to dividing by 100.

When you see a percentage symbol (%), it simply represents a fraction out of 100. So, 6.5% simply means 6.5 out of every 100. By converting it to a decimal (0.065), you'll be able to perform arithmetic operations more efficiently.

Once you have converted the percentage into a decimal form, the next step is to use that decimal to find what it represents from a whole number. Multiplying the decimal by the number of interest gives you the percentage of that number.
In our example, we have converted 6.5% to 0.065. Now, to find 6.5% of 22,800, you multiply the decimal by the number:\[0.065 \times 22,800\]
Multiplying these numbers can generally be handled through a calculator, but it’s always helpful to understand the process.

• Multiply the whole number by the decimal. This represents taking a 'part' of the whole number in terms of percentage.

In our specific case, this calculation results in 1,482. Thus, 1,482 is 6.5% of 22,800.

Solving equations involves finding an unknown value that satisfies a given equation. In this context, the unknown is made more approachable by translating word problems into mathematical equations.
Initially, the problem posed a question in words: "What number is 6.5% of 22,800?" By understanding how to set up an equation, we solve this problem step by step. In this instance, the equation can be formed as:\[x = 0.065 \times 22,800\]
where \( x \) is the unknown number we are trying to find.

• The conversion from words to a quantitative setup is crucial. It allows us to apply mathematical operations effectively.
• Notice the importance of the previously learned concepts: converting the percentage to a decimal and then multiplying to find the percentage.

With the calculation, you find that \( x = 1,482 \), which solves the equation, showing that 6.5% of 22,800 indeed is 1,482.