Final answer:
To find the number of which 16 is 45%, one must divide 16 by 0.45. The result is approximately 35.56, which rounds to the closest answer choice of 36.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question: 16 is 45% of what number? can be solved with a simple percentage calculation. To find the answer, let's set up an equation where x represents the number we are trying to find:
0.45 * x = 16
To solve for x, divide both sides of the equation by 0.45:
x = 16 / 0.45
x = 35.5555...
We can see that the number closest to this result from the options given is 36 (option b).
Therefore, 16 is 45% of 36.