You know that the 2 red pencils represent 25% of the total number of pencils (100%) that are in the backpack. To determine the total number of pencils you can use cross multiplication:
25%____2 pencils
100%____ x pencils
Both relationships are at the same ratio, so that:
![(2)/(25)=(x)/(100)](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/rmvn3ggj3ohs15o7jyb9jrkyomz1o2upcm.png)
Multiply both sides by 100 to determine the value of x
![\begin{gathered} 100\cdot(2)/(25)=100\cdot(x)/(100) \\ 8=x \end{gathered}](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/lamq8cgqvuha6f43ue6tfq4as7uyj8j9i9.png)
There are 8 pencils on his backpack.