What is a Percentage?
A percentage is a way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100. The word comes from the Latin "per centum," meaning "by the hundred." Percentages are used everywhere — from shopping discounts to financial interest rates.
Basic Percentage Calculations
Finding a percentage of a number: Multiply the number by the percentage divided by 100. For example, 15% of 200 = 200 × (15/100) = 30.
Finding what percentage one number is of another: Divide the first number by the second and multiply by 100. For example, 30 is what percentage of 200? 30/200 × 100 = 15%.
Percentage change: (New value - Old value) / Old value × 100. For example, if a price increases from £50 to £60, the percentage increase is (60-50)/50 × 100 = 20%.
Real-World Examples
- Shopping: A £80 jacket with 25% off saves you £20. The sale price is £60.
- Tips: A 10% tip on a £45 meal is £4.50.
- Tax: UK VAT at 20% on a £100 item adds £20.
Use Our Calculator
Try our free percentage calculator for quick and accurate percentage calculations.