Finding the percentage of one number relative to another is a common mathematical task. You may need to calculate percentages when determining a grade, calculating a discount, or analyzing various data. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of finding the percentage of two numbers.
How to Find the Percentage of Two Numbers
Step 1: Understand the Problem
To find the percentage of two numbers, you will need to divide one number (the part) by the other number (the whole), and then multiply the result by 100. This will give you the percentage value. The formula to find the percentage of two numbers is:
Percentage = (Part / Whole) x 100
Step 2: Identify the Part and the Whole
In any percentage problem, you need to determine which number represents the part and which number represents the whole. The part is the smaller number, or the portion of the whole number you are trying to find the percentage for. The whole is the larger number or the total value.
For example, let’s say you want to find out what percentage 20 is of 80. Here, 20 is the part and 80 is the whole.
Step 3: Divide the Part by the Whole
Now that you have identified the part and the whole, you can proceed to the next step, which is dividing the part by the whole.
In our example:
Part = 20 while Whole = 80
Divide the part (20) by the whole (80):
20 / 80 = 0.25
Step 4: Multiply the Result by 100
To convert the decimal value obtained in Step 3 to a percentage, multiply it by 100.
0.25 x 100 = 25
Step 5: Interpret the Result
The result obtained in Step 4 is the percentage value of the part relative to the whole. In our example, 20 is 25% of 80.
In summary, to find the percentage of two numbers, follow these steps:
- Understand the problem and the formula (Percentage = (Part / Whole) x 100).
- Identify the part and the whole.
- Divide the part by the whole.
- Multiply the result by 100.
- Interpret the result as a percentage.
By following this easy-to-understand step-by-step process, you can quickly and accurately find the percentage of two numbers.
Practice Problem: Find the Percentage of Two Numbers
Let’s apply the steps above to another example. Suppose you want to find out what percentage 15 is of 60.
Step 1: Understand the Problem
We need to find the percentage of two numbers using the formula:
Percentage = (Part / Whole) x 100
Step 2: Identify the Part and the Whole
In this case, 15 is the part, and 60 is the whole.
Step 3: Divide the Part by the Whole
Divide 15 by 60:
15 / 60 = 0.25
Step 4: Multiply the Result by 100
Multiply 0.25 by 100:
0.25 x 100 = 25
Step 5: Interpret the Result
The result is that 15 is 25% of 60.
By following these simple steps, you can confidently solve percentage problems involving any two numbers.