Understanding 82 Percent of Last Year’s Enrollment in Simple Terms

When you’re getting ready for the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam, understanding percentages can feel like a daunting task—especially when they show up in questions. You might find yourself glancing at a problem about percentages and wondering, “What does this even mean?” Let’s tackle this together, using the example of calculating 82 percent of last year’s enrollment. Spoiler alert: it’s simpler than it seems!  

Imagine "r" represents last year’s enrollment. To find 82 percent of that, there are two ways to express it. First, you might write it as **82% of r**. This approach is straightforward, explicitly showing that you’re taking 82 percent of the total enrollment. There’s no mystery here—it’s right there in the wording.  

Now, here’s where it gets juicy! To perform operations with percentages in math, you often convert the percentage into a decimal. Just divide 82 by 100, which gives you **0.82**. With that, you can also write this as **0.82r**. So yes, both expressions—**82% of r** and **0.82r**—represent the same numerical quantity. 

You might be wondering, “Why are we talking about this?” Well, understanding these representations can give you a strong foundation in handling similar math problems on the nursing entrance exam. Counting numbers and percentages is essential, especially when you land in areas like pharmacology or patient statistics. The better you understand these concepts now, the smoother that part of the exam will go!  

Let's look at a relatable analogy. Think about your favorite pizza place. If a large pizza costs $10 and you decide to throw a party with friends, calculating 82 percent means you might think about how much pizza you need. If you want to get 82 percent of the pizza for the party, you could say, “Let’s say it’s **82% of 10 dollars**.” You could also change it to decimal form, saying **0.82 times 10 dollars**. The total—you guessed it—remains the same, just as how both methods of expressing percentages yield the same result!  

So, when it comes down to whether the expressions are equivalent or not: absolutely! They’re both valid ways to tackle the problem. It’s like having two different paths leading to the same amazing viewpoint. The real takeaway here is confidence! Knowing that **82% of r** is the same as **0.82r** helps demystify what can be a stress point in your studies.  

In the scheme of things, percentage calculations aren’t just for exams; they find their way into everyday decisions—budgeting, portion control, or even taking those skin care routines to the next level with just the right amount. So yes, every little bit counts!  

As you continue to prep for the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam, keep this example close to your heart. When the math questions arise, you’ll find a certain comfort in numbers, knowing that you’ve got the tools to crack them open with ease. Happy studying, and remember—every bit of practice gets you one step closer to your goal of nursing!