To calculate the percentage of empty seats, we first need to determine the total number of seats on the train.

The total number of seats is the sum of the empty seats and the occupied seats:

$178 \, \text{(empty seats)} + 712 \, \text{(occupied seats)} = 890 \, \text{(total seats)}$

Next, we find the percentage of empty seats:

$\text{Percentage of empty seats} = \left( \frac{\text{Empty seats}}{\text{Total seats}} \right) \times 100$

Substituting the values:

$\text{Percentage of empty seats} = \left( \frac{178}{890} \right) \times 100 \approx 20\%$

So, approximately 20% of the seats on the train are empty.

Would you like more details or have any questions on this? Here are some related questions to expand your understanding:

1. How can I calculate the percentage of occupied seats on the train?
2. If there were 100 more empty seats, how would that change the percentage of empty seats?
3. How can I calculate the percentage of empty seats if I only know the number of occupied seats and the total number of seats?
4. What other methods can be used to calculate percentages in real-world problems?
5. How do you calculate the percentage change if the number of empty seats increases?

Tip: When calculating percentages, always remember to multiply the ratio by 100 to convert it into a percentage!