Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 8400
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This is a direct percentage calculation that tests your ability to convert a percentage into a fraction and multiply it by a given number. Such problems appear frequently in profit and loss, interest, and data interpretation questions, so it is helpful to solve them quickly and accurately.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
To find p percent of a number N, we use the relation p percent of N = (p / 100) * N. In this question, p = 12 and N = 70,000. Simplifying the fraction 12 / 100 before multiplication makes the arithmetic faster and reduces errors in mental calculations.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Express 12 percent as a fraction: 12 percent = 12 / 100.
Step 2: Apply the formula: 12 percent of 70,000 = (12 / 100) * 70,000.
Step 3: Simplify 12 / 100 to 3 / 25 by dividing numerator and denominator by 4.
Step 4: Now compute (3 / 25) * 70,000.
Step 5: First divide 70,000 by 25. Since 25 * 2,800 = 70,000, we get 70,000 / 25 = 2,800.
Step 6: Multiply 2,800 by 3 to obtain 8,400.
Verification / Alternative check:
We can also think in two steps: 10 percent of 70,000 is 7,000, and 1 percent is 700. Therefore 2 percent is 1,400. Adding 10 percent and 2 percent gives 7,000 + 1,400 = 8,400. This alternate reasoning confirms that the computed value is correct.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes mistakenly divide by 12 instead of multiplying by 12 / 100, or they misplace the decimal point when converting a percentage to a decimal. Keeping the formula percent of N = (percent / 100) * N clear helps avoid these errors.
Final Answer:
12 percent of 70,000 is 8,400.
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