Calculate Percentage Formula

Percentage Calculator

Use this calculator to find out what percentage one number is of another. Simply enter the 'Amount' (the part) and the 'Total Amount' (the whole), and the calculator will determine the percentage.

function calculatePercentage() { var amount = parseFloat(document.getElementById("amountValue").value); var totalAmount = parseFloat(document.getElementById("totalAmountValue").value); var resultDisplay = document.getElementById("percentageResult"); if (isNaN(amount) || isNaN(totalAmount)) { resultDisplay.innerHTML = "Please enter valid numbers for both fields."; return; } if (totalAmount === 0) { resultDisplay.innerHTML = "The Total Amount cannot be zero."; return; } var percentage = (amount / totalAmount) * 100; resultDisplay.innerHTML = "" + percentage.toFixed(2) + "%"; }

Understanding the Percentage Formula

Percentages are a fundamental concept in mathematics, used to express a part of a whole as a fraction of 100. The word "percent" literally means "per hundred." This makes percentages a convenient way to compare quantities, understand proportions, and analyze data across various fields.

The Basic Percentage Formula

The most common formula for calculating a percentage is:

Percentage = (Part / Whole) × 100

• Part: This is the specific amount or quantity you want to express as a percentage. It's the numerator in the fraction.
• Whole: This is the total amount or the base from which the percentage is calculated. It's the denominator in the fraction.
• 100: Multiplying by 100 converts the decimal fraction into a percentage value.

How to Use the Calculator

Our Percentage Calculator simplifies this process for you:

1. Enter the 'Amount': Input the number that represents the 'part' you are interested in. For example, if you want to know what percentage 15 is of 60, you would enter '15' here.
2. Enter the 'Total Amount': Input the number that represents the 'whole' or the total base value. Following the previous example, you would enter '60' here.
3. Click 'Calculate Percentage': The calculator will instantly display the percentage result.

Practical Examples

Let's look at some real-world scenarios where this percentage formula is applied:

Example 1: Test Scores

Imagine you scored 85 marks on a test that was out of a total of 120 marks. To find your percentage score:

• Amount (Part): 85
• Total Amount (Whole): 120
• Calculation: (85 / 120) × 100 = 70.83%

So, you scored approximately 70.83% on the test.

Example 2: Population Data

A town has a population of 25,000 people. If 7,500 of them are under the age of 18, what percentage of the population is under 18?

• Amount (Part): 7,500
• Total Amount (Whole): 25,000
• Calculation: (7,500 / 25,000) × 100 = 30%

Therefore, 30% of the town's population is under 18.

Example 3: Ingredients in a Recipe

A cake recipe calls for 300 grams of flour and a total of 800 grams of dry ingredients. What percentage of the dry ingredients is flour?

• Amount (Part): 300
• Total Amount (Whole): 800
• Calculation: (300 / 800) × 100 = 37.5%

Flour makes up 37.5% of the dry ingredients.

Understanding and being able to calculate percentages is a valuable skill for everyday life, from budgeting and shopping to academic and professional analysis.