Percentages are an integral part of everyday life, from calculating discounts at the grocery store to determining success rates in sports. Understanding how to calculate percentages is essential, and in this article, we’ll break down the process into simple steps.

1. Understand the concept of a percentage:

A percentage is a method of expressing a number as a fraction of 100. It is represented by the symbol ‘%’. For instance, if you score 90 out of 100 on a test, your score can be expressed as 90%. Essentially, you have scored 90% (or 90 parts out of 100) of the maximum possible points.

2. Identify the numbers needed for the calculation:

To calculate the percentage, you need two numbers: the part and the whole. The part refers to the smaller amount being compared to the whole. The whole is the total or maximum amount being considered in a given situation.

3. Use the formula to calculate percentages:

The standard formula for calculating percentages is:

Percentage = (Part / Whole) × 100

4. Plug in your numbers:

Now it’s time to input your values into the formula. For example, if you want to determine what percentage of your monthly budget ($1,000) is spent on food ($300), apply these numbers to the formula:

Percentage = (300 / 1000) × 100

5. Solve for ‘percentage’:

To obtain your answer, divide $300 by $1,000 and multiply by 100:

Percentage = (0.3) × 100

6. Calculate and express your result:

Now that you’ve completed your calculations, express your result as a percentage:

Percentage = 30%

In this example, you’ve determined that food expenses account for 30% of your monthly budget.

Calculating Reverse Percentages:

If you already know the percentage and need to find the original value, you can use the following formula:

Original Value = Percentage × (Whole / 100)

For example, suppose you know that a 20% discount applies to an item priced at $50. To find the discount amount, use the formula:

Discount Amount = 20 × (50 / 100)

Discount Amount = 20 × 0.5

Discount Amount= $10

In this case, the discount applied to the item is $10.

In conclusion, understanding how to calculate percentage is crucial in navigating various aspects of daily life. By recognizing your numbers and utilizing the provided formulas, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle any percentage problem that comes your way.