Percentage is used to express a number as a fraction of 100. In Latin “per cent” means “per hundred”. It usually expresses a part of or change in the quantity of a particular amount relative to the other amount. Percentage is denoted by the sign “%” which is read as “percentage”. It is very easy to calculate percentage of a number if you know how to calculate percentage.
Percentage is very important in calculations of pay raises, allowance raises, discount on sales and interest rate. The simplest way to calculate percentage of a number is to divide the given number by the total amount and then multiply this number by 100; this will give you percentage of a number. It has a wide number of applications in statistics and finance that will help in defining probability.
How to calculate percentage
Example 1:
If a student obtained 60 marks out of 75 in a particular subject, then you can find percentage by dividing 60 by 75 and then multiplying this number by 100.
Percentage of marks = (60/75) × 100
= 0.8 × 100
= 80 %
Example 2:
When you want to calculate individual percentage of a number of given variables or a given number of amounts, then you have to find the total of the given number of variables by adding all the numbers in the series of variables. When you have found the total number, you have to divide individual number by this total amount and then multiply it by 100 to get the percentage.
Suppose the numbers are 45, 36, 54 and you want to find out percentage of each individual number, then
Total = 135
Percentage of 45 of 135 = (45/135) × 100
= 33.33 %
Similarly, you can find percentages of other numbers
Calculating percentage of a number
If you want to calculate percentage of a number then, multiply the number by the percentage fraction.
Example
To calculate 6% of 4500, multiply 4500 by the percentage fraction i.e. 6/100.
Six percent of 4500 = 4500 × (6/100)
= 270
Calculating percentage increase
Percentage of numbers is mostly used in the calculation of percentage increase of a particular amount from one value to another value. This is also called as the percentage change in a particular value. It has many applications in the stock market and used to express large values in the form of percentage, as values expressed in percentage are easily understandable.
Example
If you want to calculate a percentage increase or percentage decrease between two numbers then follow the steps below:
Step 1: Suppose you have to find the percentage increase from 30 to 40. Subtract smaller number from the greater number. In this case 30 is smaller than 40, so subtracting 30 from 40 you will get 10.
Step 2: Now, divide the difference between the two numbers by the original number from which the percentage increase is to be calculated. Here, 30 is the original number, dividing it by 10 we get 0.33
Step 3: Multiply this number by hundred to get the percentage increase from 30 to 40. Multiplying 0.33 by 100 you will get 33 % increase in percentage.
You can also use calculator to calculate percentage. Simple calculators also provide the function for calculating percentage of a number. Just enter the number and divide it with the number with respect to which you want to find out the percentage. Press on the % button and you will get percentage of the number calculated.
You may also use scientific calculators for calculating more complex percentage values or use online calculators for calculating percentage of a number.
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