What is a Percentage?
A percentage is a way to express a number as a fraction of 100. The word "percent" literally means "per hundred." When we say 25%, we mean 25 per 100, or 25/100.
Formula
The basic percentage formula is:
Percentage = (Value / Total) x 100
How to Calculate
- Divide the value by the total
- Multiply the result by 100
- Add the % symbol
Examples
Example 1: What percentage is 30 out of 150?
Percentage = (30 / 150) x 100 = 20%
Example 2: If you scored 85 out of 100 on a test, your percentage is:
Percentage = (85 / 100) x 100 = 85%
Common Uses
- Academic grades and test scores
- Business metrics and KPIs
- Financial calculations and interest rates
- Statistical data representation
- Discounts and sales
Quick Tips
- Double-check your inputs for accurate results
- Use parentheses to clarify order of operations
- Results are rounded — consider significant figures
Frequently Asked Questions
Divide the value by the total, then multiply by 100.
Percentage means 'per hundred' - it expresses a number as a fraction of 100.
Multiply the decimal by 100 and add the % symbol.
0.5 = 50%
Yes, percentages can exceed 100% when the value is greater than the total.