let
x-----------> the number
we know that
[tex]30[/tex] % is equal to [tex] \frac{30}{100} [/tex]
[tex] (\frac{30}{100})*x=12 [/tex]
multiply by 100 both sides
[tex]30*x=1200[/tex]
divide by 30 both sides
[tex]x= \frac{1200}{30} \\ x=40 [/tex]
the answer is
the number is [tex]40[/tex]