How to Find Percentages

There are various ways to find percentages with or without using a calculator. Presented below are two ways to find a percentage. The first formula is the simplest and most common way. The second formula uses cross multiplication and an simple format to follow to find percentages of numbers. It can also be useful when answering word problems.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Eraser
• Calculator(optional)

Instructions

Percentages

1. Find the percentage of what one number is of another number by first dividing, and then multiplying your answer by 100. For example, if you want to find what percentage of 4 that the number 3 is, you divide 3 by 4, and then multiply the result (.75) by 100, and your result is 75%.

2. Remember the following and finding percentages will be simple: IS over OF. The formula should look like this: Is/Of * %/100.

3. Fill in the blanks of the equation. You will be answering the question what IS the percentage OF a number.

4. Use the following example: We want to know what percentage of 10 that 5 is. 5 will be the IS number, while 10 will be the OF number. Place 5 over 10 (in fraction form). Leave the % spot blank, and fill in the 100 underneath.

5. Cross multiply 5 by 100, and your result will be 500.

6. Divide 500 by 10, and your result is 50, which is the percentage.

Tips & Warnings

• Double check your answer to make sure it is correct.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish