Mathematics is an essential part of our daily lives. From calculating our expenses to measuring distances, we need math to make sense of the world around us. One fundamental concept that we often encounter is the percentage. In this article, we will discuss the basics of finding percentages in everyday life.
What Is A Percentage?
A percentage is a way of expressing a part of a whole as a fraction of 100. It is denoted using the symbol “%.” For example, 50% means half of a whole, while 25% means one-quarter of a whole.
How To Calculate A Percentage
Calculating a percentage involves three basic steps:
Step 1: Find the part of the whole that the percentage refers to.
Step 2: Convert the part to a fraction of the whole.
Step 3: Multiply the fraction by 100 to find the percentage.
For example, let’s say you want to find out what percentage of students in a class got an A on their exam. If there were 20 students in the class, and 5 of them got an A, you would follow these steps:
Step 1: The part of the whole is 5 (the number of students who got an A).
Step 2: The fraction of the whole is 5/20, which can be simplified to 1/4.
Step 3: Multiplying the fraction by 100 gives us 25%. So, 25% of the students in the class got an A.
Finding A Percentage Of A Number
Another common scenario is finding a percentage of a given number. This involves two basic steps:
Step 1: Convert the percentage to a decimal by dividing it by 100.
Step 2: Multiply the decimal by the number you want to find the percentage of.
For example, let’s say you want to find 20% of 200. You would follow these steps:
Step 1: 20 divided by 100 is 0.2, so the decimal equivalent of 20% is 0.2.
Step 2: 0.2 multiplied by 200 is 40. So, 20% of 200 is 40.
Calculating A Percentage Increase Or Decrease
Percentage increase or decrease is used to compare the difference between two values. To calculate the percentage increase or decrease, use these steps:
Step 1: Find the difference between the two values.
Step 2: Divide the difference by the original value.
Step 3: Multiply the result by 100 to get the percentage increase or decrease.
For example, let’s say the price of a product was $100 last year and increased to $120 this year. To find out the percentage increase, we would follow these steps:
Step 1: The difference between the two values is $20 (120 – 100).
Step 2: 20 divided by 100 is 0.2.
Step 3: 0.2 multiplied by 100 gives us 20%. So, the price of the product increased by 20%.
Conclusion
Finding percentages is essential in many areas of life, from finance to science and beyond. By using the simple steps outlined in this article, you can easily calculate percentages and make sense of data. With practice, you can become proficient in working with percentages, giving you the confidence to tackle more complex problems and challenges.
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