Finding a Percentage
by Sophia
WHAT'S COVERED
This tutorial covers finding a percentage, through the definition and discussion of:
1. Percent As Part of a Whole
2. Finding the Percentage of a Number
3. Methods for Finding the Percentage of a Number
1. Percent As Part of a Whole
A percentage is a number that relates a part to the whole. Percentages are viewed as portions of 100. In fact,
the word percent literally means “per 100.” Percentages can be expressed in percent form, decimal form, and
fraction form.
EXAMPLE 45 percent can be written as 45%, 0.45, or 45/100.
2. Finding the Percentage of a Number
What does it mean to find the percentage of a number?
EXAMPLE Suppose in a recent survey, 1,200 people were asked if they would vote for a certain
candidate. The results showed that 50 percent said yes, that they would vote for the candidate. You can
see in the pie chart below that 50% is the same as one-half.
© 2025 SOPHIA Learning, LLC. SOPHIA is a registered trademark of SOPHIA Learning, LLC. Page 1
, In fraction form, you know that 50% is one-half because 50% equals 50/100, which simplifies to 1/2. This
also means that out of all the 1,200 people surveyed, 600 people said yes, they would vote for the
candidate, because half of 1,200 is 600.
TRY IT
Suppose in a recent survey 400 people were asked if they owned a car or a truck. The results showed that
25% owned a truck.
How can you determine how many people owned a truck? +
In the pie graph below, you can see that 25 percent is the same as one-fourth.
In fraction form, you know that 25% is one-fourth because 25% can be written as 25/100, which
simplifies to 1/4. Therefore, you can determine that out of all the 400 people surveyed, 100 people own
a truck, because 1/4, or a quarter, of 400 is 100.
3. Methods for Finding the Percentage of a
Number
There are three methods you can use to find the percentage of a number. Regardless of which method you use,
you will arrive at the same answer.
© 2025 SOPHIA Learning, LLC. SOPHIA is a registered trademark of SOPHIA Learning, LLC. Page 2
by Sophia
WHAT'S COVERED
This tutorial covers finding a percentage, through the definition and discussion of:
1. Percent As Part of a Whole
2. Finding the Percentage of a Number
3. Methods for Finding the Percentage of a Number
1. Percent As Part of a Whole
A percentage is a number that relates a part to the whole. Percentages are viewed as portions of 100. In fact,
the word percent literally means “per 100.” Percentages can be expressed in percent form, decimal form, and
fraction form.
EXAMPLE 45 percent can be written as 45%, 0.45, or 45/100.
2. Finding the Percentage of a Number
What does it mean to find the percentage of a number?
EXAMPLE Suppose in a recent survey, 1,200 people were asked if they would vote for a certain
candidate. The results showed that 50 percent said yes, that they would vote for the candidate. You can
see in the pie chart below that 50% is the same as one-half.
© 2025 SOPHIA Learning, LLC. SOPHIA is a registered trademark of SOPHIA Learning, LLC. Page 1
, In fraction form, you know that 50% is one-half because 50% equals 50/100, which simplifies to 1/2. This
also means that out of all the 1,200 people surveyed, 600 people said yes, they would vote for the
candidate, because half of 1,200 is 600.
TRY IT
Suppose in a recent survey 400 people were asked if they owned a car or a truck. The results showed that
25% owned a truck.
How can you determine how many people owned a truck? +
In the pie graph below, you can see that 25 percent is the same as one-fourth.
In fraction form, you know that 25% is one-fourth because 25% can be written as 25/100, which
simplifies to 1/4. Therefore, you can determine that out of all the 400 people surveyed, 100 people own
a truck, because 1/4, or a quarter, of 400 is 100.
3. Methods for Finding the Percentage of a
Number
There are three methods you can use to find the percentage of a number. Regardless of which method you use,
you will arrive at the same answer.
© 2025 SOPHIA Learning, LLC. SOPHIA is a registered trademark of SOPHIA Learning, LLC. Page 2
