If 25% of a number is 15, what is the number?

If 25% of a number is 15, what is the number?

• A. 60
• B. 20
• C. 300
• D. 45

Answer: (A)

Percent means a portion of a whole, and 25% is the same as one quarter. If one quarter of the unknown number is 15, the whole number must be four times that amount. Multiply 15 by four to get 60. So the number is 60. Check: one quarter of 60 is 15. The other options would give different results when taking a quarter, so they don’t fit.

Percent means a portion of a whole, and 25% is the same as one quarter. If one quarter of the unknown number is 15, the whole number must be four times that amount. Multiply 15 by four to get 60. So the number is 60. Check: one quarter of 60 is 15. The other options would give different results when taking a quarter, so they don’t fit.