It’s a question that might pop up in a math class, a quick mental check, or even while trying to figure out a discount. "What is 0.8 of 72?" At its heart, this is about understanding percentages and proportions, and thankfully, it’s not as complicated as it might sound.
Think of "of" in mathematics as a signal to multiply. So, when we ask "what is 0.8 of 72?", we're really asking to calculate 0.8 multiplied by 72.
Let's break it down:
0.8 is the same as 8/10 or 80%. So, we're looking for 80% of 72.
To do this calculation, you can simply multiply:
0.8 * 72
If you do the multiplication, you'll find that 0.8 times 72 equals 57.6.
So, 0.8 of 72 is 57.6.
This kind of calculation pops up in various real-world scenarios. For instance, if a store is offering a 20% discount on an item priced at $72, you'd be paying 80% of the original price. In that case, 0.8 * $72 would tell you the sale price. Or, if you're looking at a report and see that a certain metric is at 80% of its target value, and the target was 72, you'd know the current value is 57.6.
It’s a simple concept, really, but incredibly useful for quick estimations and understanding proportions in everyday life. The Rule of 72, which we often hear about in finance for estimating investment doubling times, uses a similar principle of division and estimation, though its application is quite different. But for this specific query, it’s a straightforward multiplication problem. Just remember, "of" often means multiply, and you're well on your way to solving it.