Aiden needs to find the percent of shaded squares in the bar diagram. Which model should he use?

Question

A grid model with 20 squares. 16 squares are shaded.

A grid model with 100 squares. 16 squares are shaded.
A grid model with 100 squares. 60 squares are shaded.
A grid model with 100 squares. 80 squares are shaded.
A grid model with 100 squares. 96 squares are shaded.

Answer 1

To find the percent of shaded squares in the bar diagram, we can use the grid model with 100 squares because it simplifies the process of calculating percentages. Here's why:

1. Percent Calculation: Percentages are out of 100, so using a model with 100 squares makes it straightforward to determine the percentage directly based on the number of shaded squares.

2. Example with 100 Squares: If Aiden uses a grid model with 100 squares and 16 of them are shaded, he can easily see that the percentage of shaded squares is \( (16 , \text{shaded} / 100 , \text{total}) \times 100 = 16% \).

Using a grid model with 100 squares allows for a direct application of the percent formula, making this model the most convenient for Aiden's needs.

If he were to use a model with 20 squares, he would need to multiply the result by 5 to find the percentage, which is a bit more complex.

Thus, Aiden should choose "A grid model with 100 squares. 16 squares are shaded." to find the percent of shaded squares efficiently.