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How (and why) to Calculate a Percentage

If you are like me, it is important to be able to calculate a percentage quickly.  Think in terms of a sale, a tip or even a grade.  Read on to find out why you may want to know this great information!




A percentage is a number or ratio that can be expressed as a fraction of 100 in mathematics. If we need to calculate percentage of a number, we divide it by the whole number and multiply it by 100. As a result, the percentage denotes a part per hundred. The term percentage refers to one-hundredth of a percent. It is denoted by the symbol “%”. Percentages do not have a dimension. As a result, it is known as a dimensionless number. When we say a number is 50% of its total, we mean 50% of its total.

Percentages can also be expressed as decimals or fractions, such as 0.6 percent, 0.25 percent, and so on. In academics, grades are given in the form of percentages for each subject. Ram, for example, received 78 percent on his final exam. As a result, this percentage is calculated based on Ram's total marks in all subjects added to the total marks.


Meaning Of The Term Percentage


'Percentage' means 'out of a hundred.' Percentages, like fractions and decimals, are used in mathematics to describe parts of a whole. When calculating percentages, the whole is divided into a hundred equal parts. The symbol percent is used to indicate that a number is a percentage, and the abbreviation 'pct' is used less frequently.


Formula For Calculating A Percentage Of A Number


Make use of the percentage formula: P% * X = Y

For instance, what is 10% of 150?

 

Using the percentage formula, convert the problem to an equation: P% * X = Y

Because P is 10% and X is 150, the equation is 10% * 150 = Y.

By removing the percent sign and dividing by 100, you can convert 10% to a decimal: 10/10 = 0.10

 

In the equation, replace 10% with 0.10: 10% * 150 = Y becomes 0.10 * 150 = Y.

Make the following calculation: Y = 15 = 0.10 * 150

So 10% of 150 equals 15%.

 

Check your answer against the original question: What is ten percent of one hundred? Multiply 0.10 by 150 to get 1.


Marks Percentage


Exams are graded on a scale of one to one hundred. The percentages are used to calculate the grades. If a student received out of total marks, we must divide the scored mark by the total mark and multiply by 100. Let us look at some examples:

Marks obtained by Students

Total Marks

Percentage Of Marks

30

100

30%

10

20

50%

23

50

46%

13

40

32.5%

90

120

75%

 

Points To Remember

 

  1. To calculate the percentage of a whole, first, calculate the value of one percent and then multiply it by the percentage we need to find.
  2. A percentage can be used to express an increase or decrease in any quantity.
  3. Converting fractions to percentages and vice versa is possible.
  4. Percentages can be reversed. For example, 25 percent of 40 equals 40 percent of 25.


Percentage In Day To Day Life


In the following examples, percentages are used in our daily lives:

 

      Commodity discounts are expressed as percentages.

      Interest rates on loans are expressed as percentages by financial institutions such as banks and SACCOS.

      Profits and losses are expressed as percentages.

      Percentages are used in academics to assess students' performance.

      The value of goods such as cars and land fluctuates over time. This can be represented numerically in the form of percentages.

    For these reasons, knowing how to calculate percentages is useful not only for excelling in mathematics but also for applying outside of the classroom and solving practical problems involving percentages.


Learn Math From Cuemath


Math can be a divisive subject: some people adore its rigid formulas and complex problem-solving techniques, while others despise it. But, whether you enjoy it or despise it, everyone must learn math at some point in their lives. While there is no easy way to learn math, there are a variety of strategies and techniques that can help students understand it more quickly. You can visit Cuemath to learn math in an easy and fun manner.

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