Percentage Calculator (Online) - Percentage Formula

What is the meaning of Percent or Percentage?

In a variety of situations, one is required to make calculations in terms of percentage or percent as it is commonly called.

Conversion to or from percentages are very common and a source of great confusion to many people. So the natural question that arises is what is the meaning of percent?

The word percent (per cent) literally means "per hundred units of something". So when you say 25% of something, it means 25 units per 100 units of the total. The word percentage and percent are often used interchangeably.

What is the meaning of x % of y?

Now that we know what is meant by percent, the real concern is how to actually calculate percentages. The wording of various percentage questions can be a little tricky but here is a complete easy tutorial of calculating percentages.

The meaning of x% of y means that out of a total of y, what will be the value of x%. When you are asked to find x% of y, it is calculated as:

What percent of x is y?

Another aspect we are faced with is to find what percent of a total is a given figure. For example, if you have scored 45 marks in a test which was of total marks of 100.

The formula you must use is:

What is x if P% of it is y?

This may be another way to twist around a question of simple percentage. When it is asked: "What is x if P% of it is y?", the meaning is that x is the total figure and P% of it is y.

Difference in percent: Percentage Increase or Decrease

These questions are commonly involved in stocks, sensex, discounts, population rates, profit and loss, and overall performance over years.

• Step 1: Find the numerical difference (New Value - Original Value).
• Step 2: Divide the difference by the Original Value.
• Step 3: Multiply the result by 100.

How to Convert Percent to Fraction and Vice Versa?

To convert 75% into a fraction:
Write it as 75/100, then reduce using the highest common factor (25).
Result: 3/4

To convert 3/5 into a percent:
(3 ÷ 5) × 100 = 60%