Understanding Percentage Calculation: How Many Chocolates Remain in a Box?

Imagine you have a box filled with 24 delicious chocolates. If you take out 3 of them, how do you determine what percentage of the original chocolates still remain in the box? This is a practical problem that can be easily solved using the principles of fraction and percentage calculation. Let's break down the process step-by-step.

Initial Setup

First, let's establish the initial number of chocolates in the box and the number taken out. Initially, the box contains 24 chocolates. If you take out 3 chocolates, the number of chocolates left in the box can be calculated as follows:

Chocolates remaining 24 - 3 21

Calculating the Percentage

Now that we know there are 21 chocolates remaining, we can calculate the percentage of the original chocolates that are still in the box. The formula to find the percentage is:

$$ text{{Percentage}} left( frac{text{{Chocolates remaining}}}{text{{Total chocolates initially}} } right) times 100 text{{%}} $$

Substituting the numbers into the formula, we get:

$$ text{{Percentage}} left( frac{21}{24} right) times 100 text{{%}} $$

To simplify this fraction, let's divide 21 by 24:

$$ frac{21}{24} 0.875 $$

Converting 0.875 to a percentage:

$$ 0.875 times 100 text{{%}} 87.55% $$

Thus, 87.5% of the original chocolates remain in the box.

Alternative Methods

Let's explore the alternative methods mentioned in the provided content:

Method 1: Direct Subtraction

To find the number of chocolates remaining in the box, we can simply subtract the number taken out from the initial number of chocolates:

$$ text{{Remaining chocolates in the box}} 24 - 6 18 $$

Then, to find the percentage, we convert 18 chocolates out of 24 to a percentage:

$$ text{{Percentage}} left( frac{18}{24} right) times 100 text{{%}} 75% $$

Method 2: Simplifying Fractions

Another method is to simplify the fraction directly. If 3 chocolates are taken from 24:

$$ frac{21}{24} frac{21}{24} times 100 $$

Further simplification:

$$ frac{21}{24} frac{2100}{24} 87.5% $$

These methods all lead to the same conclusion: 87.5% of the original chocolates are left in the box after 3 are taken out.

Real-life Application

This problem is a practical example of how real-life situations can be tackled using mathematical concepts. Whether you're managing inventory, calculating discounts, or solving everyday puzzles, understanding percentages and fractions is crucial. By practicing these calculations, you develop a strong foundation for more complex problem-solving in various fields including business, finance, and science.

Conclusion

In summary, when 3 chocolates are taken out of a box containing 24 chocolates, 87.5% of the original chocolates remain in the box. This calculation can be easily performed using direct subtraction, simplified fraction methods, or percentage formulas. Whether you are a student, a professional, or someone interested in improving your mathematical skills, understanding these concepts is valuable. The key takeaway is that percentages and fractions are powerful tools for solving real-world problems.