Percentage Calculator
Understanding Percentages
A percentage is a number or ratio expressed as a fraction of 100. The word "percent" comes from the Latin phrase "per centum," meaning "by the hundred." It's a powerful tool used in finance, statistics, everyday shopping, and many other fields to express proportions and changes in a standardized way.
Common Percentage Calculations
The percentage calculator above can help with three fundamental types of percentage calculations:
1. Calculating a Percentage of a Number
This answers the question: "What is X% of Y?". For example, "What is 15% of $200?".
Formula: (Percentage / 100) * Original Value
Example: To find 15% of $200, you calculate (15 / 100) * 200 = 0.15 * 200 = $30.
2. Calculating What Percentage One Number Is of Another
This answers the question: "What percentage is X of Y?". For example, "What percentage is $30 of $200?".
Formula: (Part / Whole) * 100
Example: To find what percentage $30 is of $200, you calculate (30 / 200) * 100 = 0.15 * 100 = 15%.
3. Calculating Percentage Increase or Decrease
This answers the question: "What is the percentage change from X to Y?". For example, "What is the percentage increase from $200 to $230?".
Formula: ((New Value – Original Value) / Original Value) * 100
Example: To find the percentage increase from $200 to $230:
- Difference: $230 – $200 = $30
- Change as a fraction of original: $30 / $200 = 0.15
- Percentage change: 0.15 * 100 = 15% increase.
For a decrease, the result will be negative. For example, a decrease from $230 to $200 would be (($200 – $230) / $230) * 100 = (-$30 / $230) * 100 ≈ -13.04%.
Uses of Percentage Calculators
- Finance: Calculating interest, discounts, taxes, returns on investment, and growth rates.
- Shopping: Determining savings from sales and discounts.
- Statistics: Understanding proportions in data sets, survey results, and election outcomes.
- Everyday Life: Adjusting recipes, calculating tips, and understanding various reports.