Solve Percentage Problems Using a Calculator

This activity is about finding percentages of numbers using a calculator. 

 

Percent means out of a hundred. 

 

We can use this fact to help us convert a percentage to a decimal.

If we are working out 45% of a number, we can do this by considering 45% as 45/100 which means 45 ÷ 100 = 0.45. 

 

So we can work out 45% of 20 by 0.45 x 20.

Try putting this into your calculator, you should get an answer of 9.  

 

Let us look at some more examples. 

 

 

 

Example 1

23% of 400 

23% means 23/100= 0.23

0.23 x 400 = 92

 

Example 2 

A shirt costs £12.

In a sale, you will save 23% of £12.

How much money do you save?

0.23 x 12 = 2.76. 

You save £2.76

 

Do you feel ready to try some on your own?