In mathematics, a percentage is a number or ratio that can be expressed as a fraction of 100. If we have to calculate percent of a number, divide the number by whole and multiply by 100. Hence, the percentage means, a part per hundred. The word per cent means per 100. It represented by the symbol “%”.
Examples of percentages are:
- 10% is equal to 1/10 fraction
- 20% is equivalent to ⅕ fraction
- 25% is equivalent to ¼ fraction
- 50% is equivalent to ½ fraction
- 75% is equivalent to ¾ fraction
- 90% is equivalent to 9/10 fraction
Percentages have no dimension. Hence it is called a dimensionless number. If we say, 50% of a number, then it means 50 per cent of its whole.
Percentages can also be represented in decimal or fraction form, such as 0.6%, 0.25%, etc. In academics, the marks obtained in any subject are calculated in terms of percentage. Like, Ram has got 78% of marks in his final exam. So, this percentage is calculated on account of total marks obtained by Ram, in all subjects to the total marks.
Percentage Formula
To determine the percentage, we have to divide the value by the total value and then multiply the resultant to 100.
Percentage formula = (Value/Total value)×100
Example: 2/5 × 100 = 0.4 × 100 = 40 per cent
How to calculate the percentage of a number?
To calculate the percentage of a number, we need to use a different formula such as:
P% of Number = X
where X is the required percentage.
If we remove the % sign, then we need to express the above formulas as;
P/100 * Number = X
Example: Calculate 10% of 80.
Let 10% of 80 = X
10/100 * 80 = X
Percentage Difference Formula
If we are given with two values and we need to find the percentage difference between the two values, then it can be done using the formula:
For example, if 20 and 30 are two different values, then the percentage difference between them will be:
% difference between 20 and 30 =
Percentage Increase and Decrease
The percentage increase is equal to the subtraction of original number from a new number, divided by the original number and multiplied by 100.
% increase = [(New number – Original number)/Original number] x 100
where,
increase in number = New number – original number
Similarly, percentage decrease is equal to subtraction of new number from original number, divided by original number and multiplied by 100.
% decrease = [(Original number – New number)/Original number] x 100
Where decrease in number = Original number – New number
So basically if the answer is negative then there is percentage decrease.
Solved Example
Two quantities are generally expressed on the basis of their ratios. Here, let us understand the concepts of percentage through a few examples in a much better way.
| Examples: Let a bag contain 2 kg of apples and 3kg of grapes. Find the ratio of quantities present, and percentage occupied by each.Solution: The number of apples and grapes in a bag can be compared in terms of their ratio, i.e. 2:3.The actual interpretation of percentages can be understood by the following way:The same quantity can be represented in terms of percentage occupied, which is given as:Total quantity present = 5 kgRatio of apples (in terms of total quantity) = |
From the definition of percentage, it is the ratio that is expressed per hundred,
Thus, Percentage of Apples
Percentage of Grapes
Percentage Chart
The percentage chart is given here for fractions converted into percentage.
| Fractions | Percentage |
| 1/2 | 50% |
| 1/3 | 33.33% |
| 1/4 | 25% |
| 1/5 | 20% |
| 1/6 | 16.66% |
| 1/7 | 14.28% |
| 1/8 | 12.5% |
| 1/9 | 11.11% |
| 1/10 | 10% |
| 1/11 | 9.09% |
| 1/12 | 8.33% |
| 1/13 | 7.69% |
| 1/14 | 7.14% |
| 1/15 | 6.66% |
Converting Fractions to Percentage
A fraction can be represented by
Multiplying and dividing the fraction by 100, we have
From the definition of percentage, we have
Thus equation (i) can be written as:
Thus fraction can be converted to percentage simply by multiplying the given fraction by 100.
Also, read: Ratio To Percentage
Percentage Questions
Q.1: If 16% of 40% of a number is 8, the number is?
Solution: Let the required number be X.
Therefore, as per the given question,
(16/100) x (40/100) x X = 8
So, X = (8 x 100 x 100) / (16 x 40)
= 125
Q.2: What percentage of 2/7 is 1/35 ?
Solution: Suppose X% of 2/7 is 1/35
∴ (2/7 x X) / 100 = 1/35
⇒ X = 1/35 x 7/2 x 100
= 10%
Q.3: Which number is 40% less than 90 ?
Solution: Required number = 60% of 90
= (90 x 60)/100
= 54
Therefore, the required number is 54.
Q.4: The sum of (16% of 24.2) and (10% of 2.42) is equal to what value?
Solution: As per the given question ,
Sum = (16% of 24.2) + (10% of 2.42)
Required value = (24.2 × 16)/100 + (2.42 × 10)/100
Required value = 3.872 + 0.242
Therefore, required value = 4.114
Word Problems
Q.1: A fruit seller had some apples. He sells 40% apples and still has 420 apples. Originally, he had how many apples?
Solution: Let he had N apples, originally.
Now as per the given question,
(100 – 40)% of N = 420
⇒ (60/100)x N = 420
⇒ N = (420 x 100/60) = 700
Q.2: Out of two numbers, 40% of the greater number is equal to 60% of the smaller. If the sum of the numbers is 150, then the greater number is?
Solution: Let us assume, greater number be X.
∴ Smaller number = 150 – X
According to the question,
(40 x X)/100 = 60(150 – X)/100
⇒ 2p = 3 × 150 – 3X
⇒ 5X = 3 × 150
⇒ X = 90
Difference between Percentage and Percent
The word percentage and percent are related closely to each other.
Percent ( or symbol %) is accompanied by a specific number.
E.g., More than 75% of the participants responded with their positive response to abjure.
The percentage is represented without a number.
E.g., The percentage of the population affected by malaria is between 60% and 65%.
Fractions, Ratios, Percents and Decimals are interrelated with each other. Let us look on to the conversion of one form to other:
| S.no | Ratio | Fraction | Percent(%) | Decimal |
| 1 | 1:1 | 1/1 | 100 | 1 |
| 2 | 1:2 | 1/2 | 50 | 0.5 |
| 3 | 1:3 | 1/3 | 33.333 | 0.3333 |
| 4 | 1:4 | 1/4 | 25 | 0.25 |
| 5 | 1:5 | 1/5 | 20 | 0.20 |
| 6 | 1:6 | 1/6 | 16.667 | 0.16667 |
| 7 | 1:7 | 1/7 | 14.285 | 0.14285 |
| 8 | 1:8 | 1/8 | 12.5 | 0.125 |
| 9 | 1:9 | 1/9 | 11.111 | 0.11111 |
| 10 | 1:10 | 1/10 | 10 | 0.10 |
| 11 | 1:11 | 1/11 | 9.0909 | 0.0909 |
| 12 | 1:12 | 1/12 | 8.333 | 0.08333 |
| 13 | 1:13 | 1/13 | 7.692 | 0.07692 |
| 14 | 1:14 | 1/14 | 7.142 | 0.07142 |
| 15 | 1:15 | 1/15 | 6.66 | 0.0666 |
Percentage in Maths
Every percentage problem has three possible unknowns or variables :
- Percentage
- Part
- Base
In order to solve any percentage problem, you must be able to identify these variables.
Look at the following examples. All three variables are known:
Example: 70% of 30 is 21
70 is the percentage.
30 is the base.
21 is the part.
Example: 25% of 200 is 50
25 is the percent.
200 is the base.
50 is the part.
Example: 6 is 50% of 12
6 is the part.
50 is the percent.
Percentage Tricks
To calculate the percentage, we can use the given below tricks.
| x % of y = y % of x |
Example- Prove that 10% of 30 is equal to 30% of 10.
Solution- 10% of 30 = 3
30% of 10 = 3
Therefore they are equal i.e. x % of y = y % of x holds true.
Marks Percentage
Students get marks in exams, usually out of 100. The marks are calculated in terms of per cent. If a student has scored out of total marks, then we have to divide the scored mark from total marks and multiply by 100. Let us see some examples here:
| Marks obtained | Out of Total Marks | Percentage |
| 30 | 100 | 30% |
| 10 | 20 | 50% |
| 23 | 50 | 46% |
| 13 | 40 | 32.5% |
| 90 | 120 | 75% |
Problems and Solutions
| Example– Suman has a monthly salary of $1200. She spends $280 per month on food. What percent of her monthly salary does she save?Solution– Suman’s monthly salary = $1200Savings of Suman = $(1200 – 280) = $ 920 Fraction of salary she saves = |
Percentage of salary she saves
Example- Below given are three grids of chocolate. What percent of each White chocolate bar has Dark chocolate bar? Solution- Each grid above has 100 white chocolate blocks. For each white chocolate bar, the ratio of the number of dark chocolate boxes to the total number of white chocolate bars can be represented as a fraction.(i) 0 dark and 100 white.i.e. 0 per 100 or 0%.(ii) 50 dark and 50 white.I.e. 50 per 100 or 50%.(iii) 100 dark and 0 white.I .e., 100 per 100 or 100%. |
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
What do you mean by percentage?
In maths, a percentage is a value or ratio that shows a fraction of 100. Percent means per 100. It does not have any unit.
What is the symbol of percentage?
Percentage is denoted by ‘%’ symbol. It is also termed as per cent.
What is the percentage formula?
The formula to calculate percentage of a number out of another number is:
Percentage = (Original number/Another number) x 100
What is the percentage of 45 out of 150?
(45/150) x 100 = 30%
What is 40% of 120?
40% of 120
= 40/100 x 120
= 48