Percentage is a number expressed as a fraction of 100. The word percent is short form of the Latin word "Percentum" meaning out of hundred. It means ratio of some number to hundred. We use the sign" %" to denote percentage. It is basically a fraction, with 100 as the denominator and the number as the numerator.
For example 25% :
25% = (25)/(100)
In everyday life, we relate percentage to profit, loss, discount,rate of interest in banks, sales tax, income tax.
(i) Convert a ratio into percent , we write it as a fraction and multiply it with 100.
Example: To express 20 : 50 as percent , we write (20)/(50) x 100 = 40%
(ii) To convert decimal into percent we also multiply with 100
Example: 0.175 to percent 0.175 x 100 = 17.5%
(iii) To convert percent to fraction or decimal. We drop the sign % and divide the remaining number by 100
Example: 45% = (45)/(100)
(iv) To find the certain percent of a given quantity, we multiply the given percent with the given quantity
Example: 30 % of 120 = (30)/(100) x 120 = 36
Some examples on solve finding percentages
1) what is 25 % of 200 ?
Solution: (25)/(100) x 200 = 0.25 x 200 = 50
2) What is 45% of 20 ?
Solution: (45)/(100) x 20 = 0.45 x 20 = 9
3) We have to pay sales tax of 2% on product for $6.25. What is the amount we pay in all for that product.
Solution: 2% = (2)/(100) = 0.02
0.02 x 6.25 = 0.125
Total amount paid is $ ( 6.75 +0.125) = $ 6.875
4) A shoe shop marks 40% discount on each pair of shoes , what is the cost price of a pair of shoes that cost $ 67.
Solution: 40 % = (40)/(100) = 0.4
0.4 x 67 = 26.8,
Selling price = cost price - discount = 67 - 26.8 = $ 40.2
5) 43 % of a number is 53.75, find the number .
Solution: Let the number be x
43% = (43)/(100) = 0.43
0.43 x = 53.75 divide by 0.43
x = (53.75)/(0.43) = 125
Word problems on solve finding percentages
1) Mary had 24 pages to write . By the evening, she completed 25% of her work . How many pages did she have left ?
Solution: Mary completed 25% means (25)/(100) x 24 = 6 pages
Number of pages left is 24 - 6 = 18 pages
2) John's income is 20% more than that of Tom . How much percent is the income of Tom less than that of Jim.
Solution: Let Tom's income is $ 100
John's income is 20% more means 20 + 100 = $ 120
Tom's income is 100
Jim's income is 120
Tom's income is $20
% is (20)/(120) x 100 = (100)/(6) % = (50)/(3) % = 16 (2)/(3) %
3)A 90 kg solution has 10% salt . How much water must be evaporated to leave the solution with 20% salt.
Solution: Let amount of water evaporated is x
90 kg solution has 10 % salt means (10)/(100) x 90 = 9 kg
After evaporation total quantity left is ( 90 -x )
In this solution salt is 20% means (20)/(100) (90-x) 20/(100) = (1)/(5) (90-x)
Quantity of salt remains same in both of these , as only water evaporated
(1)/(5) (90 - x) = 9
90 - x = 9 . 5, 90 -x = 45 , 90 -45 = x , x = 45
45 Kg water evaporated.