This question is a little tricky. This means that 9 is 3% of x stores. 3% is equal to 0.03, because a percent is a hundredth of a whole. To find the percentage of x stores, we multiply the percent (in decimal form) by x. This is equal to 9. Our equation is 9=0.03x. Now, all we have to do is divide 9 by 0.03, to isolate x, and we'll know the answer! 9/0.03=0.03x/0.03. 9/0.03=300. So, x=300.
Answer: 300 stores