What is 2/3 of 21?

Often, in mathematics or everyday life, we need to find a fraction of a given number. For instance, how would you quickly calculate 2/3 of 21? We'll show you a straightforward method to achieve that.

How to calculate 2/3 of 21?

  1. Multiply the whole number by the numerator of the fraction: 21 × 2 = 42
  2. Divide this result by denominator of the fraction: 42/3 = 14
  3. Simplify by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their GCD (3):
    • 42/3 = 14
    • 3/3 = 1
  4. Which gives: 14/1

How does it work?

The principle behind finding a fraction of a number, such as 2/3 of 21, is rooted in the method of cross-multiplication.

Consider the following proportion: 2 3 = x 21 (where x represents 2/3 of 21)

  1. Using the cross-multiplication method, multiply both numerators by their opposite denominators: 2 × 21 = 3 x
  2. Which gives: 42 = 3 x
  3. Divide both sides by 3 to isolate x: 42 3 = 3 x 3
  4. Which gives the result: 42 3 = x (or 14 1 = x )

Thus, 2/3 of 21 is equal to 14/1 (or 14 in its decimal form).