Percentage to fraction
Write 35% as a fraction in simplest form.
Build fluent percentage skills from conversions and percentage-of-amount questions through reverse percentages, profit and loss, repeated change, and simple versus compound interest.
Subtopic 1
Per cent means “out of 100”. A percentage can therefore be written as a fraction over 100, then simplified. To convert a percentage to a decimal, divide by 100.
Write 35% as a fraction in simplest form.
Write 2.7% as a decimal.
Write 140% as a decimal and as a fraction in simplest form.
Use \(\frac{p}{100}\) for a percentage; convert using \(\text{decimal}=\frac{p}{100}\). An exact fraction should be simplified. For recurring decimals, first express the decimal as a fraction.
Write \(0.375\) as a fraction and a percentage.
\(0.375=\frac{375}{1000}=\frac38\). Multiplying by 100 gives \(37.5\%\). Hence \(\boxed{\frac38=37.5\%}\).
Try each question before opening the solution. Exam-style questions are original and modelled on the skills tested in examinations.
Write \(0.42\) as a percentage.
\(0.42\times100=\boxed{42\%}\).
Write \(65\%\) as a fraction in simplest form.
\(\frac{65}{100}=\frac{13}{20}\). Answer: \(\boxed{\frac{13}{20}}\).
Write \(\frac7{16}\) as a decimal and percentage.
\(7\div16=0.4375\), then \(0.4375\times100=\boxed{43.75\%}\).
A student claims \(0.075=75\%\). Explain the error and correct it.
Multiply the decimal by 100: \(0.075\times100=7.5\). The correct answer is \(\boxed{7.5\%}\), not 75%.
Subtopic 2
Without a calculator, useful percentages such as 10%, 5%, 20%, 25%, 50% and 75% can often be found mentally. With a calculator, multiplying by the decimal form is efficient.
Find 15% of $240.
10% of 240 = 24 and 5% = 12.
\[24+12=\boxed{\$36}\]Find 37% of $48.
Find 2.4% of $36 000.
To find \(p\%\) of a quantity, calculate \(\frac p{100}\times\text{quantity}\). Percentages above 100 are possible: they give a result larger than the starting value.
A school orders \(125\%\) of its original 240 notebooks. How many notebooks does it order?
\(125\%=1.25\); \(1.25\times240=\boxed{300\text{ notebooks}}\).
Try each question before opening the solution. Exam-style questions are original and modelled on the skills tested in examinations.
Find \(10\%\) of 340.
\(340\div10=\boxed{34}\).
Find \(17\%\) of 250.
\(\frac{17}{100}\times250=\boxed{42.5}\).
Find \(2.5\%\) of 720.
\(0.025\times720=\boxed{18}\).
A company produces 480 items. It rejects \(7.5\%\). How many items are rejected?
\(7.5\%=0.075\). Then \(480\times0.075=\boxed{36}\). There are 36 rejected items.
Subtopic 3
If units differ, convert them first.
Express 4 as a percentage of 5.
Express 70 cm as a percentage of 2.3 m.
2.3 m = 230 cm.
\[\frac{70}{230}\times100=30.434\ldots\%\]\(\boxed{30.4\%}\) to 1 d.p.
Use the same units before dividing. The denominator is the quantity named after “of” or “out of”: \(\text{part}\div\text{whole}\times100\%\).
How much of a 2.5 kg bag is 650 g, expressed as a percentage?
Convert \(2.5\text{ kg}=2500\text{ g}\). \(\frac{650}{2500}\times100=\boxed{26\%}\).
Try each question before opening the solution. Exam-style questions are original and modelled on the skills tested in examinations.
9 out of 30 students are absent. What percentage is absent?
\(\frac9{30}\times100=\boxed{30\%}\).
Express 18 as a percentage of 72.
\(\frac{18}{72}\times100=\boxed{25\%}\).
Express 45 cm as a percentage of 1.5 m.
First convert 1.5 m to 150 cm. \(\frac{45}{150}\times100=\boxed{30\%}\).
The price of a notebook is $18 and a pen is $12. Express the notebook price as a percentage of the pen price.
Use the pen price as the base: \(\frac{18}{12}\times100=\boxed{150\%}\).
Subtopic 4
A painting is bought for $45 and sold for $72. Find the percentage profit.
A computer falls in value from $1200 to $700. Find the percentage decrease.
\(\boxed{41.7\%}\) to 1 d.p.
Percentage change uses the ORIGINAL quantity as the denominator: \(\frac{\text{new}-\text{old}}{\text{old}}\times100\). State whether the result is an increase or decrease.
Attendance falls from 480 to 414. Calculate the percentage decrease.
Fall \(=480-414=66\). Percentage decrease \(=\frac{66}{480}\times100=\boxed{13.75\%}\).
Try each question before opening the solution. Exam-style questions are original and modelled on the skills tested in examinations.
A price rises from $40 to $50. Find the percentage increase.
Increase \(=50-40=10\). \(\frac{10}{40}\times100=\boxed{25\%}\).
A value falls from 200 to 170. Find the percentage decrease.
Decrease \(=30\). \(\frac{30}{200}\times100=\boxed{15\%}\).
Exam marks improve from 56 to 70. Find the percentage increase.
Increase \(=14\). \(\frac{14}{56}\times100=\boxed{25\%}\).
A club membership increases from 125 to 150 and then decreases to 135. Find the overall percentage change from the start.
Change from 125 to 135 is \(+10\). \(\frac{10}{125}\times100=\boxed{8\%\text{ increase}}\). Use the original 125, not 150.
Subtopic 5
One method is to calculate the increase or decrease separately, then add or subtract it from the original amount.
A salary of $24 000 increases by 3%.
An item costs $17.60 and is reduced by 15%.
To increase a number by \(p\%\), add \(\frac p{100}\) of it. To decrease it, subtract that percentage of the ORIGINAL amount.
A jacket costing $80 is reduced by 15%. Calculate the sale price.
Discount \(=0.15\times80=12\). New price \(=80-12=\boxed{\$68}\).
Try each question before opening the solution. Exam-style questions are original and modelled on the skills tested in examinations.
Increase 60 by 20%.
Increase \(=0.20\times60=12\). New value \(=\boxed{72}\).
Decrease $90 by 30%.
Reduction \(=0.30\times90=27\). New value \(=\boxed{\$63}\).
A population of 2400 increases by 12%. Find the new population.
Increase \(=0.12\times2400=288\). New population \(=\boxed{2688}\).
A printer costs $250. It is first reduced by 12% and then a delivery fee of $15 is added. Find the total.
Discount \(=0.12\times250=30\). Sale price \(250-30=220\). Add $15: \(\boxed{\$235}\).
Subtopic 6
A salary of $17 000 increases by 3%.
Multiplier = 1.03.
\[17000\times1.03=\boxed{\$17510}\]A $155 tablet is reduced by 15%.
Multiplier = 0.85.
\[155\times0.85=\boxed{\$131.75}\]Increase by \(p\%\): multiply by \(1+\frac p{100}\). Decrease by \(p\%\): multiply by \(1-\frac p{100}\).
A percentage multiplier makes the calculation one step: \(1+\frac p{100}\) for an increase; \(1-\frac p{100}\) for a decrease. The multiplier multiplies the old amount.
A bicycle costs $375 and is discounted by 16%. Find its new price using a multiplier.
Multiplier \(=1-0.16=0.84\). New price \(375\times0.84=\boxed{\$315}\).
Try each question before opening the solution. Exam-style questions are original and modelled on the skills tested in examinations.
Write the multiplier for a 7% increase.
\(1+\frac7{100}=\boxed{1.07}\).
Write the multiplier for a 35% decrease.
\(1-\frac{35}{100}=\boxed{0.65}\).
Increase 550 by 18% in one step.
\(550\times1.18=\boxed{649}\).
After a 22% reduction a machine costs $624. Find its cost BEFORE the reduction.
Final multiplier is \(0.78\). Original price \(=624\div0.78=\boxed{\$800}\).
Subtopic 7
Reverse percentages work backwards. If the final amount was found by multiplying, recover the original by dividing by the multiplier.
After a 20% pay rise, a salary is $31 260. Find the original salary.
After a 10% reduction, a dress costs $38.70. Find its original price.
The sale price is 90% of the original, so multiplier = 0.90.
\[38.70\div0.90=\boxed{\$43}\]If a sale price is 20% less than the original, do not add 20% to the sale price. The sale price represents 80% of the original, so divide by 0.80.
For reverse percentages, divide the FINAL amount by the multiplier. A final price after a 20% reduction represents 80% of the original, not 120%.
After an 18% increase, a salary is $2950. Find the original salary.
\(\text{original}\times1.18=2950\). \(\text{original}=2950\div1.18=\boxed{\$2500}\).
Try each question before opening the solution. Exam-style questions are original and modelled on the skills tested in examinations.
A price including 20% tax is $120. Find the price before tax.
\(\text{original}=120\div1.20=\boxed{\$100}\).
After a 10% discount a bag costs $45. Find the original price.
\(45\div0.90=\boxed{\$50}\).
A population after increasing by 25% is 1000. Find the starting population.
\(1000\div1.25=\boxed{800}\).
A shop sells a watch for $161 after a 30% reduction. Calculate its original price.
Final amount is 70%. Original price \(=161\div0.7=\boxed{\$230}\).
Subtopic 8
Usually depends on hours or days worked.
A fixed amount, often quoted per year and paid monthly.
Gross pay is pay before deductions. Take-home pay is what remains after tax and other deductions. Some jobs include commission, usually a percentage of sales.
An annual salary is $8500. Find the monthly gross pay.
\(\boxed{\$708.33}\) to the nearest cent.
Basic annual pay is $9600. A worker also earns 5% commission on monthly sales. In May, sales are $7500. Find May gross pay.
Total pay may combine a basic wage, overtime and a commission. Be careful whether commission is a percentage of SALES or a percentage of PAY.
A worker earns $12 per hour for 35 hours, overtime at $18 per hour for 5 hours, and $30 commission. Find total earnings.
Basic \(35\times12=420\). Overtime \(5\times18=90\). Total \(420+90+30=\boxed{\$540}\).
Try each question before opening the solution. Exam-style questions are original and modelled on the skills tested in examinations.
A worker earns $11 per hour for 8 hours. Calculate earnings.
\(11\times8=\boxed{\$88}\).
A salesperson receives 4% commission on $3500 sales. Find the commission.
\(0.04\times3500=\boxed{\$140}\).
A person works 30 hours at $15 per hour and 4 overtime hours at $22 per hour. Find total pay.
Basic \(30\times15=450\). Overtime \(4\times22=88\). Total \(=\boxed{\$538}\).
A salesperson gets a $900 basic wage plus 3% of sales. Total pay is $1110. Find the sales.
Commission \(1110-900=210\). Sales \(=210\div0.03=\boxed{\$7000}\).
Subtopic 9
Reduction from the original price.
Selling price − cost price.
Cost price − selling price.
A jacket costs $38 and has a 15% discount.
The customer pays 85%.
\[38\times0.85=\boxed{\$32.30}\]An item costs $1.40 and sells for $1.80. Find the percentage profit.
\(\boxed{28.6\%}\) to 1 d.p.
A car bought for $9500 is sold for $8300. Find the percentage loss.
\(\boxed{12.6\%}\) to 1 d.p.
Percentage profit or loss is calculated relative to COST price, while a discount is normally a percentage of the ORIGINAL marked selling price. Keep those bases separate.
A shop buys a bag for $48 and marks it at $75. It offers a 20% discount. Find the percentage profit.
Sale price \(=75\times0.80=60\). Profit \(=60-48=12\). Percentage profit \(=\frac{12}{48}\times100=\boxed{25\%}\).
Try each question before opening the solution. Exam-style questions are original and modelled on the skills tested in examinations.
An item costs $80 and sells for $100. Find the percentage profit.
Profit \(=20\). \(\frac{20}{80}\times100=\boxed{25\%}\).
An item bought for $150 sells for $120. Find the percentage loss.
Loss \(=30\). \(\frac{30}{150}\times100=\boxed{20\%}\).
A jacket is marked $200 and discounted by 35%. Find its sale price.
\(200\times0.65=\boxed{\$130}\).
A trader buys an item for $360 and wants a 15% profit on cost. Find the selling price.
\(360\times1.15=\boxed{\$414}\).
Subtopic 10
For repeated increases or decreases, use the same multiplier again for every period. This is why powers are useful.
An item costs $12 and rises by 5% each year. Find the price after 2 years.
A machine worth $3500 loses 11% of its value each year. Find its value after 4 years.
Multiplier = \(1-0.11=0.89\).
\[3500\times0.89^4=2195.968\ldots\]\(\boxed{\$2195.97}\) to the nearest cent.
Repeated percentage changes multiply: \(A=P(1\pm\frac p{100})^n\). A rise by 10% followed by a fall by 10% does NOT return to the original amount.
A device costs $800. Its price increases by 15%, then decreases by 10%. Find the final price.
\(800\times1.15\times0.9=\boxed{\$828}\). Overall change \(=\frac{828-800}{800}\times100=3.5\%\text{ increase}\).
Try each question before opening the solution. Exam-style questions are original and modelled on the skills tested in examinations.
Increase 100 by 10% twice.
\(100\times1.1^2=\boxed{121}\).
Decrease 600 by 20% twice.
\(600\times0.8^2=\boxed{384}\).
A machine worth $4000 loses 15% in value each year. Find its value after 2 years.
\(4000\times0.85^2=\boxed{\$2890}\).
A population rises by 5% for 3 years from 8000. Find the population after 3 years, nearest whole number.
\(8000\times1.05^3=9261\). Answer \(\boxed{9261}\) people.
Subtopic 11
Interest is calculated on the original principal every time.
Interest is added first, then future interest is calculated on the new balance.
where \(P\) is the principal, \(r\) is the percentage rate per period, \(n\) is the number of periods and \(A\) is the final amount.
$4000 is invested for 2 years at 5% simple interest per year.
Interest per year:
\[4000\times0.05=200\]Two years' interest:
\[2\times200=400\]Final amount:
\[4000+400=\boxed{\$4400}\]$4000 is invested for 6 years at 5% compound interest.
\(\boxed{\$5360.38}\)
$4000 is invested for 5 years. Option A pays 3.5% simple interest; Option B pays 3.25% compound interest. Which is better?
Option A:
\[4000+(4000\times0.035\times5)=4700\]Option B:
\[4000(1.0325)^5=4693.65\text{ (to nearest cent)}\]Option A is better by
\[4700-4693.65=\boxed{\$6.35}\]Simple interest is calculated on the original principal each year: \(I=Prt/100\). Compound interest is calculated on the increasing balance: \(A=P(1+r/100)^t\).
$2000 is invested at 5% per year for three years. Compare the simple- and compound-interest totals.
Simple: \(2000(1+0.05\times3)=\boxed{\$2300}\). Compound: \(2000(1.05)^3=\boxed{\$2315.25}\). Compound gives $15.25 more.
Try each question before opening the solution. Exam-style questions are original and modelled on the skills tested in examinations.
Find simple interest on $1000 at 4% per year for 2 years.
\(I=1000\times0.04\times2=\boxed{\$80}\).
Find the amount after 2 years for $500 at 10% compound interest per year.
\(500\times1.1^2=\boxed{\$605}\).
A loan of $600 at simple interest earns $90 over 3 years. Find the annual rate.
\(90=600\times r\times3/100\). \(r=90\times100/(1800)=\boxed{5\%}\).
$800 is deposited at 2.5% compound interest per year for 2 years. Find the interest earned, to the nearest cent.
Final amount \(=800(1.025)^2=840.50\). Interest \(=840.50-800=\boxed{\$40.50}\).
Questions begin with percentage fluency and progress to reverse percentages, profit/loss and repeated change. Try each question before opening the solution.
Write 62.5% as a decimal and a fraction in simplest form.
Find 32% of $720.
Express $1.70 as a percentage of $2.
Express 45 cm as a percentage of 1.8 m.
1.8 m = 180 cm.
\[\frac{45}{180}\times100=\boxed{25\%}\]A wage rises from $5.00 to $5.60 per hour. Find the percentage increase.
A value falls from $1250 to $600. Find the percentage decrease.
Increase $2500 by 6.2%.
Multiplier = 1.062.
\[2500\times1.062=\boxed{\$2655}\]A $42 pair of shoes is reduced by 30%. Find the sale price.
Multiplier = 0.70.
\[42\times0.70=\boxed{\$29.40}\]After a 12% increase, a quantity is 84 tonnes. Find the original quantity.
After a 5% reduction, a pair of shoes costs $47.50. Find the original price.
47.50 is 95% of the original.
\[47.50\div0.95=\boxed{\$50}\]A worker earns an annual basic salary of $12 000 plus 7.5% commission on annual sales of $76 000. Find total annual pay.
An article is bought for $22 and sold for $27. Find the percentage profit.
\(\boxed{22.7\%}\) to 1 d.p.
Shares worth $8000 increase by 7.5% each year. Find their value after 4 years.
\(\boxed{\$10684.04}\)
A car worth $10 500 falls in value by 12% per year. Find its value after 3 years.
Multiplier = 0.88.
\[10500(0.88)^3=7158.0672\]\(\boxed{\$7158.07}\)
$1500 is invested at 4% compound interest for 4 years. Find the final amount.
\(\boxed{\$1754.79}\)
$500 is invested for 3 years. Compare 12% simple interest with 10% compound interest. Which earns more interest, and by how much?
Simple interest:
\[500\times0.12\times3=180\]Compound final amount:
\[500(1.10)^3=665.50\]Compound interest:
\[665.50-500=165.50\]Simple interest earns more by
\[180-165.50=\boxed{\$14.50}\]A television costs $564 including 17.5% sales tax. Find the price before tax.
The taxed price is 117.5% of the pre-tax price.
\[564\div1.175=\boxed{\$480}\]An investment of $3500 earns 5% compound interest for 3 years and then 7.5% for the next 3 years. Find its value after 6 years.
\(\boxed{\$5016.03}\) to the nearest cent.
I can move between fractions, decimals and percentages without confusing ×100 and ÷100.
I use the original amount as the denominator for percentage change, profit and loss.
I can turn any percentage increase/decrease into a one-step multiplier.
I divide by the final multiplier to recover an original amount.
I can handle salary, commission, discount, profit and loss with the correct base amount.
I use powers for repeated percentage change and understand why compound interest grows differently from simple interest.