Percentages are everywhere, from calculating discounts during shopping to assessing changes in data and expressing proportions. Understanding how to calculate percentages is a valuable skill that can be applied to various aspects of everyday life and business. In this blogger post, we'll walk you through the fundamentals of percentage calculations and provide real-world examples to help you become a percentage pro.
What Is a Percentage?
A percentage is a way of expressing a fraction of a whole as a part of 100. The symbol for percentage is "%," and it is often used to describe proportions, ratios, and comparisons.
BASIC PERCENTAGE CALCULATION
The most basic percentage calculation involves finding a specified percentage of a given number. Here's how to do it:
Step 1: Convert the Percentage to a Decimal
Divide the percentage value by 100 to convert it to a decimal. For example, to convert 25% to a decimal, you would do:
25% = 25 / 100 = 0.25 (as a decimal)
Step 2: Multiply the Decimal by the Number
Multiply the decimal equivalent of the percentage by the number you want to find the percentage of. For example, to find 25% of 80:
0.25 (decimal equivalent) x 80 = 20
So, 25% of 80 is 20.
FINDING A PERCENTAGE
Conversely, you can find the percentage one number represents of another by dividing the part by the whole and multiplying by 100. Here's how:
Step 1: Divide the Part by the Whole
Divide the part you want to express as a percentage by the whole. For example, if you want to find what percentage 15 is of 60:
15 / 60 = 0.25
Step 2: Multiply by 100
Multiply the result by 100 to express it as a percentage:
0.25 x 100 = 25%
So, 15 is 25% of 60.
PERCENTAGE CHANGE
Percentage change is a common calculation when assessing increases or decreases over time. To calculate percentage change:
Step 1: Subtract the Old Value from the New Value
Subtract the old value from the new value:
New Value - Old Value
Step 2: Divide by the Old Value
Divide the result from step 1 by the old value:
(Result from Step 1) / Old Value
Step 3: Multiply by 100
Multiply the result from step 2 by 100 to express it as a percentage:
(Result from Step 2) x 100
Example:
If the price of a product increased from $50 to $60, the percentage change would be:
(60 - 50) / 50 = 10 / 50 = 0.2
0.2 x 100 = 20%
So, the price increased by 20%.
Calculating percentages is a versatile skill that you can apply in many areas of your life, from financial planning to data analysis. By understanding the basics of percentage calculations and practicing with real-world examples, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions and solve a wide range of problems.
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