Finding a percentage

This lesson presents finding a percentage by expressing the rate as a decimal and multiplying it by the base.


Thus, we have three important terms to define when finding a percentage

Rate: The rate is the percent

Percentage: The result obtained when a number is multiplied by a percent

Base: The base is the amount you are taking a percent of


For instance,look at the following percent sentence: 40 % of 60 is 24

40% is the rate

60 is the base

21 is the percentage

Example: Find 25 % of 100

25% = 0.25

Using a calculator, 0.25 times 100 = 25

Example: What number is 75% of 200?

75% = 0.75

Using a calculator, 0.75 times 200 = 150

Example: x is 20% of 80.What is x?

20% = 0.20

Using a calculator, 0.20 times 80 = 16