5 Easy Methods to Calculate Percentages

5 Easy Methods to Calculate Percentages
1️⃣ Fraction or Decimal Method
Question: Find 25% of £80
How it works: Convert the percentage into a decimal, then multiply by the number.
Formula:
Step 1: Percentage ÷ 100 = Decimal
Step 2: Decimal × Number = Answer
Example:
25% = 25 ÷ 100 = 0.25
Now multiply: 0.25 × 80 = 20
✅ So 25% of £80 = £20
2️⃣ Unitary Method
Question: Find 25% of £80
How it works: Find what 1% is first, then multiply to get the percentage you want.
Formula:
Step 1: Number ÷ 100 = Value of 1%
Step 2: Value of 1% × Percentage = Answer
Example:
1% of £80 = 80 ÷ 100 = 0.8
Now multiply by 25: 0.8 × 25 = 20
✅ So 25% of £80 = £20
3️⃣ Multiplier Method
Question: A jacket costs £80 with 25% off. What is the new price?
How it works: Use this when a value increases or decreases by a percentage. Create a multiplier using (1 + %) for increases or (1 − %) for decreases.
Formula:
Step 1: Multiplier = 1 ± (Percentage ÷ 100)
Step 2: Original Number × Multiplier = Answer
Example:
Multiplier = 1 − 0.25 = 0.75
Now multiply: 80 × 0.75 = 60
✅ So after a 25% discount, the new price is £60
4️⃣ Proportion Method
Question: Find 25% of £80
How it works: Set up a ratio between the percentage and the whole, then solve for the unknown.
Formula:
Step 1: Percentage : 100 = Answer : Number
Step 2: Answer = (Percentage × Number) ÷ 100
Example:
25 : 100 = x : 80
Cross-multiply: x = (25 × 80) ÷ 100
x = 2000 ÷ 100 = 20
✅ So 25% of £80 = £20
5️⃣ Percentage Change Method
Question: The price increased from £80 to £100. What is the percentage increase?
How it works: Compare two numbers to find what percentage one has changed relative to the original.
Formula:
Step 1: Change = New Number − Original Number
Step 2: Percentage Change = (Change ÷ Original Number) × 100
Example:
Change = 100 − 80 = 20
Percentage change = (20 ÷ 80) × 100 = 25%
✅ So the price increased by 25%

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