In Mathematics, we often need to compare two quantities. One useful way to compare them is by expressing one quantity as a percentage of another quantity. Percentages are used everywhere in real life such as discounts in stores, interest in banks, marks in exams, sports statistics, and many more.
What is percentage?
A percentage (%) means “out of 100”. When we express one quantity as a percentage of another, we are trying to find how many parts out of 100 the first quantity is compared to the second quantity.
How to express one quantity as a percentage of another?
To express quantity A as a percentage of quantity B:
\( \text{Percentage} = \frac{A}{B} \times 100\% \)
Example 1:
A student scored 45 marks out of 60 in a test.
Express the marks scored as a percentage of the total marks.
Score as percentage = \(\frac{45}{60} \times 100\% = 75\%\)