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How can I understand percentages?

I don't understand how to find out

Percentage change

New price of something

Original price

I struggle so much with it I've been looking at examples but it doesn't get to my head 🙈
Reply 1
Avatar for Shaanv
Shaanv
17
I think a lot of percentages comes down to how well u know ur percentages decimals and fractions.

Consider the following:

An item is reduced by 15% in a sale. Its sale price is £35.

So this question is basically telling us that 85% of the original price is £42.50 Since the original price is 100% and 15% was taken off.

So there are a few very similar ways of getting the right answer. The most logical way of thinking that will always work is:

If 85% is £42.50
1% is £0.50
100% is £50.

Essentially what u have done is divide by 85 then multiplied by 100. This can all be done in one eat operation by multiplying 42.50 by 100/85.

This arise due to the fact that dividing by 85 is the same as multiplying by 1/85.

This is a specific example however if u take the methodology u should be able to apply it to almost any case.

If u have any specific questions i can help u with i would be more than happy to.

Note the fractions are not in there simplest forms, im lazy but u shouldnt be.
(edited 6 years ago)

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