Percent Problems

Percent is a ratio of a number and 100. It always has the same denominator, 100. The percent symbol is “%”.
-  Percent means "per 100". So, 20% is .
-  In each percent problem, we are looking for the base, or the part or the percent.

Use these equations to find each missing section in a percent problem:
Base = Part ÷ Percent
Part = Percent × Base
Percent = Part ÷ Base

Examples:
Example 1.  What is of ?
Solution: In this problem, we have the percent () and the base () and we are looking for the “part”. Use this formula: .
Then: . The answer: of is .

Example 2.  is what percent of ?
Solution: In this problem, we are looking for the percent. Use this equation: .
Then: is 5 percent of .

Example 3.  is 20 percent of what number?
Solution: In this problem, we are looking for the base. Use this equation:

Then: is 20 percent of .