Swap the percentage

x% of y = y% of x

The trick, step by step

1. Swap the numbers: 8% of 50 is the same as 50% of 8.

   8% of 5050% of 8

2. 50% is half, and half of 8 is 4.

   4

3. So 8% of 50 = 4.

given working answer taken away

Why it works

x% of y = x × y ÷ 100 = y% of x, because the two numbers can be multiplied in either order.