Predict the result
What number is thirty five percent of ninety?
Will the result be less than half of ninety?

Set up the model
Percent means per one hundred.
Thirty five percent is thirty five over one hundred, or zero point three five.

Work the example
Let n stand for the number.
Multiply zero point three five by ninety.
The result is thirty one point five.
Thirty one point five is thirty five percent of ninety.

Check the result
Now find forty five percent of eighty.
Take eight seconds to think before the answer appears.
[Eight-second silent pause to work; the answer remains hidden.]
Multiply zero point four five by eighty.
The result is thirty six.

Interpret the result
Thirty five percent is less than fifty percent.
So thirty one point five is less than half of ninety.