Chapter 4:

PERCENTAGES
4.1 Introduction

▰ In mathematics, a
percentage is a
number or ratio
expressed as a
fraction of 100.

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Introduction

▰ It is often denoted
using the “percent
sign”, “%” or the
abbreviation “pct”.

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Introduction

▰ A percentage is a
dimensionless number
(pure number)

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History

The use of percentage

is used date back in
the Ancient Rome, long
before the existence of
the decimal system.

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History

Computation with
these fractions was
equivalent to
computing
percentages.

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History

▰ As denominations of money grew in the

Middle Ages (Medieval Period),
computations with a denominator of 100
become more standard.

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History

▰ From the late 15th century to the early 16th

century it became common for arithmetic
text to include such computations.

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4.2 Percent and Fractions

Percent is a special
type of a fraction with
100 as a
denominator.

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The Percent Sign

▰ The term “percent” is

derived from the Latin
“per centum”
meaning “by hundred”

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The Percent

A percent may always be reduced to a

fraction and then this fraction may in turn
be expressed in decimal form.

60 percent (written as 60%) means 60

hundredths or 60/100.
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Rules for Converting a Decimal
Fraction to a Percent

Rule 1: To convert a decimal fraction to equivalent

percent, multiply the decimal by 100.
This means, the decimal point has to be
moved two places to the right.

Rule 2: To convert a percent to a decimal fraction,

divide the percent by 100.
This means, the decimal place has to be
moved two places to the left.
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Example 4.1:

Express 2.15 as percent.

Move the decimal point two places to the right.

2.15 = 215.% = 215%

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Example 4.2:

Express 12 percent as a decimal

Move the decimal point two places to the left.

12% = 0.12
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Example 4.3:

Express 6/25 as a percent.

Multiply the fraction by 4/4.

6 4 24
x   24%
25 4 100

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Example 4.4:

Express 3/7 as a percent.

Converting 3/7 to its decimal equivalent.

3/7 = 0.42857… ≈ 42.86%

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Types of Percentage Problems

All percentage problems can be reduces to

three types:

a. Calculating the percent of a given

quantity.
b. Determining the rate or percent.
c. Computing the base or the quantity.
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The Formula

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The Formula

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 The Formula

P = value of the rate 38 (obtained score)

R = has the percent 48.10%

(%) sign

B = total number 79 (total number of items)

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 The Formula

P = (B)(R) 38 (obtained score)

R = (P ÷ B) x 100 48.10%

B = (P ÷ R) x 100 79 (total number of items)

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COMPUTATION

a. PERCENT of a QUANTITY
To calculate the percent of a given quantity, express
the given percent as a common or decimal fraction
and multiply it by the quantity.

Percentage = (Rate)(Base)
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Example 4.5:

What is 12 percent of 70?

Convert: 12 percent or 12% as decimal

12% = 0.12
P = (Rate)(Base)
= (0.12)(70)
= 8.4 23
COMPUTATION

b. PERCENT from PERCENTAGE

To determine what percent one quantity is of
another, divide the percentage by the base.

Rate = (Percentage) ÷ (Base)

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Example 4.6:

72 is what percent of 120?

The base is 120 and the percentage is 72.

72 3
72 is of 120, that is of 120.
100 5

3 3 60
=
5 5
x 20 =
100
= 60%
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COMPUTATION

c. QUANTITY from PERCENTAGE and

PERCENT
To calculate the base, divide the percentage by the
rate and multiply by 100.

Percentage
Base = x 100
Rate
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Example 4.7:

24 is 15% of what number?

Since 15% of the number is 24, then:

24 24
1% = = 1.6
15 Base = x 100
0.15
Base = (1.6)(100)
Percentage
Base = x 100
Rate
= 160 27
D. 5 points.

An 8.04g sample of iron sulfide

contains 5.12 g of iron by weight. What
is the percent of the iron in the iron
sulfide?

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Assignment:

½ crosswise. To be submitted tomorrow.

A copper compound contains 80 percent

copper by weight. How much copper is
there in a 1.95-g sample of the compound.
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