Calculating Rotten Mangoes: An In-Depth Guide

Imagine you are presented with a basket containing 50 mangoes, and you are told that 10% of these mangoes are rotten. How would you determine the exact number of rotten mangoes in the basket?

Understanding Percentage Calculation

Percentage is a way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100. Therefore, when we say 10% of something, it means 10 out of 100 parts. In the context of the mangoes, 10% of 50 mangoes can be calculated by converting the percentage to a fraction and multiplying it by the total number of mangoes.

Step-by-Step Calculation Method

Convert the percentage to a decimal. Multiply the decimal by the total number of mangoes. The result will be the number of rotten mangoes.

Method 1: Direct Calculation

First, let us convert 10% to a decimal. 10% can be written as 10 ÷ 100 0.10. Now, multiply this decimal by the total number of mangoes (50):

0.10 × 50 5

Therefore, there are 5 rotten mangoes in the basket.

Method 2: Proportional Reasoning

Alternatively, you can use a proportion method to solve the problem. We know that 10 out of every 100 mangoes are rotten, or in proportional form, 10/100 x/50. We need to solve for x, the number of rotten mangoes:

10/100 x/50

To solve for x, cross-multiply:

10 × 50 100 × x

500 10

Divide both sides by 100:

x 500/100 5

Hence, there are 5 rotten mangoes in the basket.

Conclusion

Solving percentage problems like this can be straightforward once you understand the principles of converting percentages to decimals and using proportions. Whether you choose to use direct calculation or proportional reasoning, the result is the same: 5 mangoes are rotten.

If you need more help with similar math problems or educational resources, I would recommend visiting educational websites or referring to math textbooks for further assistance.