How to work out a percentage of an amount
Per cent means out of 100. Learn one method for finding a percentage of an amount, and one for turning two amounts into a percentage.
In this room: 3 tasks, 10 questions
- A percentage of an amount4 questions
- One amount as a percentage of another4 questions
- A percentage with a decimal in it2 questions
Per cent means out of 100. So 15% is 15 out of every 100.
- Step 1: divide the percentage by 100 to get a decimal
- Step 2: multiply the amount by that decimal
Worked example: 15% of £240. 15 ÷ 100 = 0.15. Then 240 × 0.15 = £36.
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3 more questions follow in this task.
Sometimes you have two amounts and want the percentage. The part is the smaller amount. The whole is the amount it is part of.
- Step 1: divide the part by the whole
- Step 2: multiply by 100
Worked example: £45 out of £180. 45 ÷ 180 = 0.25. Then 0.25 × 100 = 25%.
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3 more questions follow in this task.
The method does not change when the percentage is not a whole number. Divide it by 100 as before.
Worked example: 2.5% of £400. 2.5 ÷ 100 = 0.025. Then 400 × 0.025 = £10.
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1 more question follows in this task.