How do I set up a proportion for problems like......?

Question

What is 86 percent of 500 (don't tell me the awnser) I just want to know how to set up the proportion to solve it.

Answer 1

When you see problems like this, substitute a "times" sign in the place of the word "of." You would work it as 86% times 500 to give you your answer. To set it up as a proportion problem, you would put 86 over 100 times X over 500, then cross multiply to solve for X.

Answer 2

86 over 100 equals x over 500