Taking the time to get a percentage of two numbers can save you a lot of time and effort in the long run. Here is a guide and some reasons why getting a percentage of two numbers might benefit you.
At some point in our lives, we all need to find a percentage of two numbers. Whether you’re trying to tip your waiter or working out a rebate at the store, percentages are a part of daily life. Thankfully, calculating percentages isn’t difficult—once you get the hang of it.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to find a percentage of two numbers.
Step 1: Decide Which Number Is the Whole
In order to calculate a percentage, you first need to decide which number is the whole. The whole is the number out of which you’re trying to find a percentage. For example, let’s say you’re trying to find 20% of 100. In this case, 100 would be whole because it’s the number out of which you want to find 20%.
Step 2: Convert the Percent Into a Decimal
The next step is to convert it into a decimal. To do this, simply move the point two places to the left. So, if you’re trying to find 20% of 100, you would convert 20% into 0.20.
Step 3: Multiply the Decimal by the Whole
Now that you have both numbers in decimal form, you can multiply them together to get your answer. In our example, we would multiply 0.20 by 100 to get 20. This means that 20% of 100 is equal to 20. Easy, right?
Keep in mind that you can also use this method to find a percentage of a quantity. For example, let’s say you have 10 apples, and you want to find 20% of them. In this case, the 10 apples would be your whole, and you would follow the same steps above to get your answer: 0.20 x 10 = 2, meaning 20% of 10 apples is equal to 2 apples.
Two reasons why you should do this:
1. You Can Make More Informed Decisions
If you have data presented to you in fraction form, converting it into a percentage can help you better understand what the data is trying to tell you. When you know what percent something is, you can compare it to other data points more efficiently and make informed decisions.
2. You Can Save Time
Converting fractions into percentages can also help you save time. For example, let’s say you’re looking at a pie chart showing how your company’s sales are divided among different products. If all the wedges are labeled with fractions, it will take longer to figure out which product is responsible for the most sales. However, if the wedges are labeled with percentages, you can easily see that Product A accounts for 40% of sales, Product B accounts for 30% of sales, and so on.
Conclusion:
Calculating percentages don’t have to be difficult or time-consuming—as long as you know what you’re doing. By following these simple steps, finding a percentage of two numbers can be quick and easy!