How to Calculate Percentage

How to Calculate Percentage?

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How many of you are aware that the word percent is derived from the Latin word "per centum"? It is also clear that if you break down the word "percent" into the two words "per" and "cent," the meaning becomes pretty clear: it means by a hundred percent. In this case, we can conclude that percentages are nothing more than fractions with denominators equal to 100 in all instances.

Calculation of Percentage

Now that we know what is percentage, let’s find out how to calculate it with ease. In percentage problems, we basically have to find the part/share of a whole in terms of 100. This we can do in the following 2 ways:

  • Firstly, we can apply the unitary method.
  • Secondly, we take the fraction in consideration and change its denominator to 100.

A thing to note is that the second method can only be effectively used when the denominator of the fraction is a factor of 100. If this isn’t the case, we will always resort to the first method.

Example 1: 6 is what percentage of 24?
So, for this question, we first make the fraction as 624 , and then since the fraction can be simplified, we simplify it to 14 .
Next, we will multiply it by 100 to get the percentage as 14×100 = 25

Example 2: 9 is what percentage of 63?
So, for this question, we first make the fraction as 963 , and then since the fraction can be simplified, we simplify it to 17 .
Next, we will multiply it by 100 to get the percentage as 17×100 = 14.28

Example 3: 27 is what percentage of 81?
So, for this question, we first make the fraction as 2781 , and then since the fraction can be simplified, we simplify it to 13 .
Next, we will multiply it by 100 to get the percentage as 13×100 = 33.33 *
* Also, remember that the result of such calculations can depend on the degree of precision or the number of decimal places you are rounding to. In many cases, 33.33 might be rounded to 33.3  or even 33 depending on the context.
Free printable Worksheets

Exercises for Percentage Calculations

1) 4.2 is what percentage of 12?  

2) 9.45 is what percentage of 27?  

3) 0.95 is what percentage of 19?  

4) 24.6 is what percentage of 41?  

5) 15.3 is what percentage of 34?  

6) 16.8 is what percentage of 56?  

7) 53.55 is what percentage of 63?  

8) 74.1 is what percentage of 78?  

9) 63.75 is what percentage of 85?  

10) 80 is what percentage of 100?  

 
1) 4.2 is what percentage of 12?  4.2×10012 = 35
2) 9.45 is what percentage of 27?  9.45×10027 = 35
3) 0.95 is what percentage of 19?  0.95×10019 = 5
4) 24.6 is what percentage of 41?  24.6×10041 = 60
5) 15.3 is what percentage of 34?  15.3×10034 = 45
6) 16.8 is what percentage of 56?  16.8×10056 = 30
7) 53.55 is what percentage of 63?  53.55×10063 = 85
8) 74.1 is what percentage of 78?  74.1×10078 = 95
9) 63.75 is what percentage of 85?  63.75×10085 = 75
10) 80 is what percentage of 100?  80×100100 = 80

Percentage Calculations Practice Quiz