What number is $24.5 \%$ smaller than $72 ?$ Give your answer as a decimal.

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}