Question

Hello! I really don't understand this question. Please answer it, it is due tomorrow! Also, please answer it in the most simple way possible? Appreciate it! :)

Michelle and Michael checked some books out of the library. 20% of the books Michelle checked out were fiction books. Your friend thinks that Michael checked out more fiction books than Michelle. Explain the error in your friend's thinking. Use an example to support your reasoning.

Answer 1

Just because Michelle checked out 20% of her borrowed books were fictions does not mean Michael had more books. For example, Michelle could have borrowed 100 books, which would result into her borrowing 20 fiction books while Michael could have borrowed just 1 fiction book with a 100% of his borrowed books being a fiction book.

Explanation:

Just because Michelle checked out 20% of her borrowed books were fictions does not mean Michael had more books. For example, Michelle could have borrowed 100 books, which would result into her borrowing 20 fiction books while Michael could have borrowed just 1 fiction book with a 100% of his borrowed books being a fiction book.

In other words, percentage is just the simplied ratio of something. Percentage cannot account for the original value and its original value cannot be assumed that it is small just because the percentage is small.