JENECONKMaths Universe

Percentages

Ages 9–14

Difficulty adapts to you

Percentages

Percent means out of one hundred. Find percentages using friendly parts such as 50%, 10%, 5%, and 1%, or convert the percentage to a decimal.

Your goals

  • ✓You can find percentages and connect them to fractions and decimals.
  • ✓You can use percent, percentage correctly.
  • ✓You can compare your answer with 0%, 50%, and 100% of the quantity.

Words to know

percent:
Out of 100.
percentage:
A proportion written with the % symbol.

Examples

  • 125% of 80 = one quarter of 80 = 20.
  • 215% of 240 = 10% + 5% = 24 + 12 = 36.

More than one way to solve it

Try each method, then choose the one you can explain and check most clearly.

Method 1

Find 10%, 5%, and 1%

Best for: Mental percentage calculations
  1. 1.Divide by 10 for 10%.
  2. 2.Halve 10% for 5% or divide by 100 for 1%.
  3. 3.Combine the parts.

Example: 15% of 240 = 10% (24) + 5% (12) = 36.

Method 2

Convert to a fraction or decimal

Best for: Calculator and written methods
  1. 1.Write the percentage over 100 or as a decimal.
  2. 2.Multiply by the quantity.
  3. 3.Simplify or evaluate.

Example: 35% of 80 = 0.35 × 80 = 28.

Check these

  • • Do not use the percentage number without dividing by 100.
  • • Keep every number, symbol, label, and unit in its correct place.
  • • Choose the method that makes each step easiest to explain and check.

Helpful habits

  • • Read the whole question before choosing what to do.
  • • Show one clear step at a time and check each step.
  • • If you are stuck, draw a model, try smaller numbers, or revisit the example.

Now try your own

Create your own percentages example, solve it, and explain how you checked it.

Professor Wise Owl

Professor Wise Owl

Wisdom & Understanding

“A wise learner asks questions. Be curious!”