Percentages are a common concept in our daily lives. We use them to calculate discounts, tips, and taxes, among other things. When it comes to math, percentages are also crucial in understanding and solving various problems. One of the essential concepts of percentages is finding the percentage of a number. In this article, we will explore what it means to find the percentage of a number and how to do it.

What is the Percentage of a Number?

The percentage of a number refers to the portion or fraction of that number, expressed as a percentage. For instance, if we say that 20% of 100 is 20, it means that 20 is 20% of 100. Similarly, if we say that 40% of 80 is 32, it means that 32 is 40% of 80. Therefore, finding the percentage of a number involves determining what fraction or portion of that number a given percentage represents.

How to Calculate the Percentage of a Number

There are different methods for calculating the percentage of a number, but the most straightforward one is to multiply the number by the percentage and divide the result by 100. For example, to find 25% of 80, we can use the following formula:

25% of 80 = (25/100) x 80 = 20

Therefore, 25% of 80 is 20.

Similarly, we can find any percentage of a number by using the same formula. For instance, to find 60% of 150, we can use the formula:

60% of 150 = (60/100) x 150 = 90

Therefore, 60% of 150 is 90.

Using Percentages to Solve Problems

Percentages are not only useful in finding the percentage of a number but also in solving various problems. For example, we can use percentages to calculate a discount, a tip, or a tax. Let's look at some examples.

Calculating a Discount

Suppose you want to buy a shirt that costs $50, but there is a 20% discount. To calculate the discounted price, we can use the formula:

Discounted price = Original price - (Discount percentage x Original price)/100

Therefore, the discounted price of the shirt is:

Discounted price = $50 - (20 x $50)/100 = $40

Calculating a Tip

Suppose you had lunch at a restaurant and want to leave a 15% tip on a bill of $40. To calculate the tip, we can use the formula:

Tip amount = (Tip percentage x Bill amount)/100

Therefore, the tip amount is:

Tip amount = (15 x $40)/100 = $6

Calculating a Tax

Suppose you bought a phone for $800, and the sales tax is 10%. To calculate the total cost, including tax, we can use the formula:

Total cost = Bill amount + (Tax percentage x Bill amount)/100

Therefore, the total cost of the phone is:

Total cost = $800 + (10 x $800)/100 = $880

Conclusion

Percentages are a crucial concept in math and our daily lives. Understanding how to find the percentage of a number and how to use percentages to solve problems is essential. By using the formulas and examples provided in this article, you can easily calculate percentages and solve various problems related to discounts, tips, and taxes.

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