The question “What is 20% of 1200?” is asking to find 20 percent of 1200. 20 percent of a number is calculated by multiplying the number by 0.2. So to find 20 percent of 1200, you would multiply 1200 by 0.2.

Calculating 20% of 1200

To calculate 20 percent of 1200, follow these steps:

1. Identify the number you want to take 20 percent of, which is 1200.
2. Convert 20 percent to a decimal by moving the decimal point two places to the left. 20 percent becomes 0.2.
3. Multiply the number (1200) by the decimal value of 20 percent (0.2).
   • 1200 x 0.2 = 240
4. The result is 240.

So 20 percent of 1200 is 240.

To explain further:

• Percent means “out of 100”. So 20% means 20 out of 100.
• To turn a percent into a decimal, move the decimal point two places to the left. 20% becomes 0.2.
• Multiplying a number by a decimal converts the decimal to a percentage. Multiplying 1200 by 0.2 is the same as taking 20% of 1200.
• 0.2 is the same as 20/100. When you multiply 1200 by 20/100, you get:
  1200 x (20/100) = 1200 x 0.2 = 240

So in summary, to find 20% of a number:

1. Convert the percentage to a decimal
2. Multiply the number by the decimal

Using this process, 20% of 1200 is:

1. 20% -> 0.2
2. 1200 x 0.2 = 240

Therefore, 20% of 1200 is 240.

Performing the Calculation Another Way

There is also another way to calculate 20% of 1200 using mental math, without converting the percentage to a decimal.

You can take 10% of 1200 and double it to get 20%.

To get 10% of a number, you move the decimal point one place to the left.

10% of 1200 is 120. (Move the decimal point one spot: 1200 -> 120.0).

Then double it to get 20%:

10% of 1200 is 120 Double it to get 20% of 1200: 120 x 2 = 240

So 20% of 1200 is 240.

This mental math shortcut works because:

• 10% of a number is that number divided by 10
• 20% of a number is that number divided by 5
• Dividing by 10 moves the decimal left once
• Dividing by 5 moves the decimal left twice
• So 10% is moving the decimal once, and 20% is moving it twice (or doubling the 10% amount)

Conclusion

In summary, there are two ways to calculate 20% of a number:

1. Convert 20% to 0.2 and multiply the number by 0.2
2. Take 10% of the number, and then double it to get 20%

Using either method, we find that 20% of 1200 is 240.

To calculate 20 percent of any number, convert 20% to the decimal 0.2, and multiply the number by 0.2. Or take 10% of the number and double it.

Both methods will allow you to easily find 20 percent of a given number.