How To Figure Out Percentages

How to Figure Out Percentages in Standard American English

Percentages are a common way to express fractions and proportions. They are used in a wide variety of contexts, from everyday conversation to mathematics and science. If you want to be able to understand and use percentages correctly, it is important to know how to figure them out.

What is a percentage?

A percentage is a fraction that is expressed as a part of 100. For example, the percentage 50% is equivalent to the fraction 50/100, which can be simplified to 1/2.

How to figure out percentages

There are a few different ways to figure out percentages. One way is to use the formula:

percentage = (part / whole) * 100

For example, if you want to find the percentage of students in a class who are female, you would divide the number of female students by the total number of students and then multiply the result by 100.

Another way to figure out percentages is to use a proportion. A proportion is an equation that states that two ratios are equal. For example, the following proportion states that the ratio of female students to total students is equal to the ratio of 50 to 100:

female students / total students = 50 / 100

You can solve this proportion for the variable x, which represents the percentage of female students:

female students / total students = 50 / 100
x / 100 = 50 / 100
x = 50

Therefore, the percentage of female students in the class is 50%.

Examples of percentages

Here are a few examples of how percentages are used in everyday conversation:

• "The sale is 50% off."
• "I’m 90% sure that it will rain tomorrow."
• "The probability of winning the lottery is 1%."

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between a percentage and a fraction?

A: A percentage is a fraction that is expressed as a part of 100. A fraction is a number that represents a part of a whole.

Q: How do I convert a percentage to a fraction?

A: To convert a percentage to a fraction, divide the percentage by 100. For example, to convert 50% to a fraction, divide 50 by 100:

50% = 50 / 100 = 1/2

Q: How do I convert a fraction to a percentage?

A: To convert a fraction to a percentage, multiply the fraction by 100. For example, to convert 1/2 to a percentage, multiply 1/2 by 100:

1/2 = 1/2 * 100 = 50%

Q: How do I find the percentage of a change?

A: To find the percentage of a change, divide the amount of the change by the original