Understanding How to Find 44% of 25

The ABCs of Calculating Percentages: Your Guide to the LPN Entrance Exam

So, you might be gearing up for your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) journey, and along the way, you're going to run into various mathematical challenges. One of those you might have already come across is calculating percentages—like finding out what 44% of 25 is. It sounds simple, right? But when it comes to nursing or any healthcare setting, the precision in these calculations is incredibly vital.

What’s with the Percentage?

First off, let’s break down what percentages actually mean. You see, a percentage is simply a way to express a number as a fraction of 100. Think of percentages as a friendly way to explain proportions. For example, 44% means 44 out of every 100 parts. So, if you're looking to find 44% of a value, you're on a quest to figure out what portion of that value corresponds to 44 out of 100.

Navigating the Numbers

Now, back to our example: "If you want to find 44% of 25, what calculation would you perform?" You have several options to consider. Here’s the fun part: it’s not as complicated as it looks!

The correct answer is 0.44 x 25. In this situation, you convert that percentage (44%) into its decimal form, which is 0.44, and then you multiply it by the number you’re interested in—25, in this case. This multiplication is the heart of the matter. It’s like asking how big a slice you’d get if you had 44 slices of a pie made out of 100. Simple enough, right?

Okay, But Why Multiply?

You might wonder, “Why multiply? What about adding or subtracting?” Great question! Adding or subtracting won't help you get to the bottom of finding a percentage. When you multiply 0.44 by 25, you’re effectively saying, “Let’s take the chunk of 25 that represents 44% of it.” This multiplication shows that you’re working with parts of the whole—and that’s the beauty of calculating percentages!

Here’s a scenario for a visual: Imagine you’re splitting a 25-seat bus full of passengers. If 44% of those passengers are wearing seats belts, you want to calculate how many are safely buckled in. By multiplying 0.44 (44% as a decimal) by 25 passengers, you can easily determine how many of them are strapping in for safety, which is quite important, don’t you think?

Let’s Crunch the Numbers

To put it crudely but accurately: 0.44 multiplied by 25 equals 11. So, 44% of 25 is 11. There you have it! You’ve just calculated a percentage, and it certainly doesn’t have to be a brain-buster.

While we’re at it, let’s explore the other options you might have seen earlier:

• A. 25 + 0.44: This suggests you’re adding 0.44 to 25, but that doesn’t get you anywhere near what percentage you're looking for.

• B. 0.44 + 25: Same idea here! Adding them won’t yield the desired portion of the whole.

• C. 0.44 x 25: Ding! Ding! That’s our winner!

• D. 25 - 0.44: You’d end up with a weird and irrelevant number—nowhere closer to understanding the percentage.

You see, the options that involve adding or subtracting just can’t get you there. They miss the point of calculating a part of a whole.

Bringing It All Together

Finding percentages, especially in healthcare, is more common than you might think. Whether it’s calculating medication dosages based on a patient's weight or working out patient statistics, the ability to understand and perform percentage calculations is key to your effectiveness as a nurse.

Now, don't let numbers intimidate you. Just keep that multiplication trick in your back pocket. When you encounter a percentage, remember you want to turn it into a decimal and multiply. With practice and a little patience, you’ll become quite the whiz at these calculations.

After all, being an LPN is not just about the practical skills you acquire, but also about being able to think critically and apply knowledge effectively in the fast-paced healthcare environment. And while math might not be your favorite subject, it’s undeniably an important one.

So, keep your chin up, stay curious, and tackle that math like the future nursing superstar you’re destined to be! You got this!