Free Percentage Calculator
What is a Percentage?
A percentage is a number or ratio expressed as a fraction of 100. It's denoted using the percent sign (%). Percentages are widely used in finance, statistics, education, and everyday calculations to express proportions, changes, and comparisons.
Key uses: Calculating discounts, tips, tax rates, grade scores, interest rates, and statistical data analysis.
What percentage is X of Y?
Calculate Percentage Increase/Decrease
What is X% of Y?
Real-World Percentage Calculator Examples
Example 1: Test Score Percentage
Problem: If you scored 45 out of 50 on a test, what's your percentage?
Solution: (45 ÷ 50) × 100 = 90%
Explanation: You got 90% of the questions correct.
Example 2: Sales Discount
Problem: A $200 item has a 25% discount. How much do you save?
Solution: 25% of $200 = $200 × 0.25 = $50 discount
Final Price: $200 - $50 = $150
Example 3: Salary Increase
Problem: Your salary increased from $50,000 to $55,000. What's the percentage increase?
Solution: ((55,000 - 50,000) ÷ 50,000) × 100 = 10%
Explanation: You received a 10% salary increase.
Example 4: Tip Calculation
Problem: Calculate a 18% tip on a $75 restaurant bill.
Solution: 18% of $75 = $75 × 0.18 = $13.50
Total Bill: $75 + $13.50 = $88.50
Example 5: Stock Price Change
Problem: A stock price dropped from $120 to $96. What's the percentage decrease?
Solution: ((96 - 120) ÷ 120) × 100 = -20%
Explanation: The stock decreased by 20%.
How to Calculate Percentages: Step-by-Step Guide
Method 1: Basic Percentage (What percent is X of Y?)
- Identify the part and whole: Determine which number is the part and which is the whole.
- Divide: Divide the part by the whole.
- Multiply by 100: Convert to percentage by multiplying by 100.
- Add % symbol: Don't forget the percentage sign!
Method 2: Percentage Of (What is X% of Y?)
- Convert percentage to decimal: Divide the percentage by 100.
- Multiply: Multiply the decimal by the number.
- Get result: This gives you the answer.
Method 3: Percentage Change
- Find the difference: Subtract old value from new value.
- Divide by original: Divide the difference by the original value.
- Convert to percentage: Multiply by 100.
- Interpret result: Positive = increase, Negative = decrease.
Common Percentage Calculations
Quick Percentage Conversions
- 10% = 0.1
- 25% = 0.25 (1/4)
- 50% = 0.5 (1/2)
- 75% = 0.75 (3/4)
- 100% = 1.0
Common Tip Percentages
- 15% - Standard service
- 18% - Good service
- 20% - Excellent service
- 22%+ - Outstanding service
Sales Tax Examples
- 5% - Low tax states
- 7-8% - Average tax
- 10%+ - High tax areas
- 0% - Tax-free states