What is 4/10 of 74?

Often, in mathematics or everyday life, we need to find a fraction of a given number. For instance, how would you quickly calculate 4/10 of 74? We'll show you a straightforward method to achieve that.

How to calculate 4/10 of 74?

  1. Multiply the whole number by the numerator of the fraction: 74 × 4 = 296
  2. Divide this result by denominator of the fraction: 296/10 = 29.6
  3. Simplify by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their GCD (2):
    • 296/2 = 148
    • 10/2 = 5
  4. Which gives: 148/5

Since 148/5 is an improper fraction, the result could also be expressed as a mixed number: 29 3/5

How does it work?

The principle behind finding a fraction of a number, such as 4/10 of 74, is rooted in the method of cross-multiplication.

Consider the following proportion: 4 10 = x 74 (where x represents 4/10 of 74)

  1. Using the cross-multiplication method, multiply both numerators by their opposite denominators: 4 × 74 = 10 x
  2. Which gives: 296 = 10 x
  3. Divide both sides by 10 to isolate x: 296 10 = 10 x 10
  4. Which gives the result: 296 10 = x (or 148 5 = x )

Thus, 4/10 of 74 is equal to 148/5 (or 29.6 in its decimal form).