Use this calculator to find out what percentage one number is of another.
Understanding Percentages
A percentage is a way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100. It's often denoted using the percent sign (%). For example, 50% means 50 out of 100, or 0.5 as a decimal.
How to Calculate the Percentage of Two Numbers
To find out what percentage one number (the 'part') is of another number (the 'whole'), you use a simple formula:
Percentage = (Part / Whole) × 100
In this formula:
Part (Numerator): This is the number you want to express as a percentage of the other number.
Whole (Denominator): This is the total or the reference number against which the 'part' is being compared.
Step-by-Step Calculation
Identify the Part and the Whole: Determine which number is the 'part' and which is the 'whole'.
Divide the Part by the Whole: Perform the division.
Multiply by 100: Take the result from step 2 and multiply it by 100 to convert the decimal or fraction into a percentage.
Examples
Example 1: Simple Percentage
You scored 80 marks out of a total of 100 marks in an exam. What percentage did you score?
Part = 80
Whole = 100
Calculation: (80 / 100) × 100 = 0.8 × 100 = 80%
Result: You scored 80%.
Example 2: Real-World Scenario
A store has 250 items in stock. On a particular day, 45 items were sold. What percentage of items were sold?
Part = 45
Whole = 250
Calculation: (45 / 250) × 100 = 0.18 × 100 = 18%
Result: 18% of the items were sold.
Example 3: Finding a Percentage of a Larger Number
If you have 50 apples and 15 of them are red, what percentage of the apples are red?
Part = 15
Whole = 50
Calculation: (15 / 50) × 100 = 0.3 × 100 = 30%
Result: 30% of the apples are red.
Why is this useful?
Calculating percentages is fundamental in many aspects of life and business: