Calculating percentages of amounts
In a nutshell
It is often useful to calculate percentages of amounts when solving problems. Some are simple and some require a little more work.
Finding percentages of amounts
There are two methods to calculating percentages of amounts: by using simple percentages that you already know, or by converting the percentage to a fraction and multiplying.
Method 1: Using simple percentages
You can always split up a percentage into smaller simple ones. Below are some simple percentages that you need to remember how to calculate, as well as their equivalent fraction pairs.
PERCENTAGE | FRACTION | HOW TO CALCULATE |
50%
| 21
| Divide by two
|
25%
| 41
| Divide by four
|
10%
| 101
| Divide by ten
|
5%
| 201
| Divide by ten and then two
|
1%
| 1001
| Divide by one hundred
|
Example 1
In a sale, everything is 17% off. What saving would be made on £200?
Split 17% into simple percentages.
17%=10%+5%+1%+1%
Work out each of the simple percentages.
10% of 200=200÷10=20
5% of 200=10%÷2=20÷2=10
1% of 200=200÷100=2
Add together the simple percentages.
20+10+2+2=£32
Method 2: Turn into a fraction and multiply
The second method is to simply turn the percentage into a fraction and multiply by the amount. Remember that to convert from a percentage to a fraction you take the percentage as a fraction out of one hundred.
Example 2
Calculate 29% of £3300.
Write 29% as a fraction out of one hundred.
10029
Multiply by £3300.
10029×£3300=£3300÷100×29=£33×29=£957