Key points
- You can find the percentage of an amount mentally, by combining percentages or using equivalent fractionA fraction with the same value as another.. Or you may choose to use a calculator method.
- To calculate percentageA fraction expressed as the number of parts per hundred and recorded using the notation %, being able convert percentages to fractions, find equivalent fractions, and find fractions of an amount are useful skills.
- Knowledge of the order of operations (BIDMAS) is useful in recognising that a percentage calculation can be entered into a calculator in different ways.
Find a percentage of an amount using combinations of percentages
One way to find a percentage of an amount is to use 1%, 10% and 50% as building blocks.
Write the percentage as the sumThe answer to an addition calculation of two or more of 1%, 10% and 50%
Work out the percentages.
Sum the percentages to get the total percentage.
Examples
1 of 10
Question
Given the building blocks of 50% and 10%, there is more than one way to mentally work out 45% using combinations of percentages.
Write down some ideas. Then check to see if your combinations are listed.
Work out 5% by dividing 10% by 2. (5% is half of 10%)
Work out 20% by multiplying 10% by 2
Work out 40% by multiplying 10% by 4
Possible combinations include:10% + 10% + 10% + 10% + 5% = 45%
20% + 20% + 5% = 45%
40% + 5% = 45%
50% 鈥 5% = 45%
Find a percentage of an amount using equivalent fractions
Another method to find a percentage ofThe word 鈥榦f鈥 can be replaced by 'multiplied by' or '脳' as it means the same thing. an amount involves equivalent fractions.
To find a percentage of an amount using equivalent fractions:
Write the percentage as a simplify (a fraction)To reduce a fraction to its simplest form, also known as its lowest terms. equivalent fraction.
Divide the amount by the denominatorNumber written on the bottom of a fraction. The denominator is the number of equal parts. Eg, for 1鈦3, the denominator is 3.
Then multiply the result by the numeratorNumber written at the top of a fraction. The numerator is the number of parts used. Eg, for 1鈦3, the numerator is 1.
It is useful to know that A% of B is the same as B% of A. This is helpful to remember when calculating a trickier percentage.
Examples
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Question
Find 75% of 24
75% is 75鈦100 which simplifies to 戮
Divide 24 by the denominator (4) and multiply by the numerator (3)
75% of 24 is 18
Find a percentage of an amount using a calculator
There is more than one way to work out a percentage of an amount using a calculator:
Convert the percentage to a decimal, then find the percentage of the amount.
Divide the percentage value by 100
Multiply by the amount.
Or
Work out 1% of the amount, then find the percentage of the amount.
Divide the amount by 100
Multiply by the percentage value.
The order of operations (BIDMAS) can give further variations of the process.
Examples
1 of 6
Question
Use a calculator to work out 8鈭2% of 3500
There is more than one way to enter the calculation:
Convert the percentage to a decimal, then find the percentage of the amount.
Divide the percentage value (8鈭2) by 100. Then multiply by the amount (3500).8鈭2 梅 100 脳 3500
Or
Work out 1% of the amount, then find the percentage of the amount.
Divide the amount (3500) by 100. Then multiply by the percentage value (8鈭2).3500 梅 100 脳 8鈭2
The answer is the same.8鈭2% of 3500 is 287
Practise calculating percentages
Practise calculating percentages in this quiz. You might need a pen, paper and calculator to help you.
Quiz
Real-world maths
A customer in a restaurant may wish to give a tip when paying for a meal. They may use a mental calculation to work out a 10% or 15% payment to the person who has provided the table service. They can then leave a cash tip, or add the tip to their card payment.
Finding the percentage of an amount is useful when buying discounted goods. For example, a clothes store may offer higher discounts on particular collections within the same store. Each item may be tagged with the full price and the percentage discount. It is useful to be able to work out the price you will pay either mentally or with a calculator.
Teaching resources
Are you a teacher looking for more resources? This short video clip describes how percentage discounts can be worked out without using a calculator.
成人快手 Teach has thousands of free, curriculum-linked resources to help deliver lessons - all arranged by subject and age group.
Game - Divided Islands
Play the Divided Islands game! gamePlay the Divided Islands game!
Using your maths skills, help to build bridges and bring light back to the islands in this free game from 成人快手 Bitesize.
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