What number is $24.5 \%$ smaller than $72 ?$
Give your answer as a decimal.
\boxed{54.36}
Step 1 :Find 24.5% of 72: \(0.245 \times 72 = 17.64\)
Step 2 :Subtract the percentage value from the original number: \(72 - 17.64 = 54.36\)
Step 3 :\boxed{54.36}