The question addresses a fundamental percentage calculation. It seeks to determine the proportional relationship between two quantities, specifically establishing the value of 24 relative to the whole of 40. The solution involves expressing 24 as a fraction of 40, and then converting this fraction to a percentage by multiplying by 100. The numerical outcome represents the proportion of the whole that 24 constitutes.
Understanding how to perform this type of calculation is crucial for various applications. It is a core skill in financial analysis for calculating profit margins or discounts. It also serves as a foundational element in statistical analysis for understanding data distributions and proportions. Historically, the capacity to compute percentages has been essential for trade, taxation, and various forms of quantitative analysis. Its importance persists across disciplines and professional domains.