How to Find the Percent of Two Numbers: A Short Tutorial

Meenakshi Agarwal
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Meenakshi Agarwal
Hi, I'm Meenakshi Agarwal. I have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a Master's degree in Computer Applications. After spending over a decade in large...
5 Min Read

Knowing how to calculate percentages is super important in real life. It’s a skill you can use in many different situations. In this tutorial, we’re going to break down the process of finding the percent of two numbers using different methods. We’ll walk you through each step with plenty of examples to make sure you get the hang of it. By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp of this fundamental concept, and you’ll be ready to use it whenever you need to in your day-to-day life. Let’s make percentages easy and fun!

How to Find the Percent of Two Numbers

Check out the different methods to calculate the percentages of a number.

Method#1 Basic Percentage Formula

The most straightforward way to find the percent of two numbers is by using the basic percentage formula:

basic percentage formula to find the percent of two numbers

Example#1

Imagine you have a class of 30 students, and 15 of them are girls. To find the percentage of girls in the class:

example using the basic percentage formula to find percentage of two numbers

This formula is effective when you have a part of a whole and need to express it as a percentage.

Method#2 Percentage Change

When comparing an initial and final value, calculating the percentage change is essential. The formula for percentage change is:

The formula for percentage change of two numbers

Example#2

Suppose the price of a stock was $50 last month and increased to $75 this month. To find the percentage change:

example of calculating the percentage change

This method helps understand the relative increase or decrease between two values.

Method#3 Finding the Percent of a Number

To find the percentage of a specific number, use the formula:

formula to find the percentage of a specific number

Example#3

If you want to find 20% of 150:

example to find the percentage of a specific number

This method is handy for calculating taxes on a purchase or determining tips.

Method#4 Proportions and Cross-Multiplication

Proportions, utilizing cross-multiplication, offer another method for finding percentages. Set up an equation and solve for the unknown percentage.

Example#4

Suppose you know that 25 is 20% of a certain number. To find that number:

cross-multiplication to find percentages of two numbers

Cross-multiplying:

Cross-multiplying step-1

Solving for the unknown number:

Cross-multiplying step-2

This method is versatile and applicable to various scenarios.

Method#5 Use of Multiplication and Division

Finding the percentage can be as simple as multiplying or dividing by the appropriate factor.

Example#5

Consider a situation where a $120 item is on sale at a 15% discount. To find the discounted price:

find Percent of Two Numbers by Multiplying with factor

Simplifying the expression:

find the discounted price

This method is particularly useful for quick mental calculations.

Supplemental Information

Here is some info that can come in handy for you while finding the percentage of two numbers.

Decimal to Percentage Conversion

To convert a decimal to a percentage, multiply it by 100 and add the percentage symbol.

Decimal to Percentage Conversion

Percentage to Decimal Conversion

To convert a percentage to a decimal, divide it by 100.

Percentage to Decimal Conversion

Importance of Percentages

Understanding percentages is crucial in various fields, including finance, business, and everyday transactions. It helps in budgeting, analyzing data, and making informed decisions.

Common Percentage Relationships

Quickly find out the terms you can use to refer to percentages.

  • 50% is half of a whole.
  • 25% is one-fourth of a whole.
  • 75% is three-fourths of a whole.

Real-World Applications

Some of the real-time applications of percentages can be found below:

  • Budgeting: Calculating the percentage of income spent on different expenses.
  • Business: Determining profit margins, discounts, and sales tax.
  • Health: Tracking weight loss or gain as a percentage of the initial weight.
  • Education: Grading systems often use percentages to evaluate performance.

Conclusion – Find Percent of Two Numbers

Understanding how to calculate percentages is essential for many everyday situations. Whether you’re dealing with finances, figuring out discounts, or tracking changes over time, knowing how to find the percent of two numbers is a crucial skill. It’s like having a reliable toolkit for handling real-life scenarios. Once you get the hang of these techniques and grasp the additional details, you’ll feel more confident navigating through various situations where percentages come into play. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about practical knowledge that can make your life a bit easier. So, let’s dive into these methods in a simple and friendly way to make sure you’re all set to tackle any percentage-related challenge that comes your way!

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