The Percentage of a Number
Calculating the percentage of one number relative to another involves determining what fraction or proportion one number (the “part”) is of another number (the “whole”) and then expressing this fraction as a percentage. This is a common mathematical operation used in various real-world scenarios, such as analyzing data, comparing quantities, or calculating discounts.
Here’s how to perform this calculation:
- Identify the Part and the Whole: Determine the two numbers involved—one representing the part (the smaller portion or specific value) and the other representing the whole (the total or reference value).
- Divide the Part by the Whole: This operation gives a decimal number representing the ratio of the part to the whole.
- Multiply by 100: To express this ratio as a percentage, multiply the decimal result by 100. This step shifts the decimal point two places to the right, converting the ratio into a percentage.
For example, if you want to know what percentage 50 is of 200, you divide 50 by 200 to get 0.25. Then, multiply 0.25 by 100 to get 25%. This means 50 is 25% of 200. This method is fundamental in various fields, including finance, statistics, and everyday calculations.