Percentage Guide & Practice
Learn percentage conversion tricks, successive percentage change formulas, consumption-expenditure shortcuts, and practice free online mock tests. Explore dynamic solver blueprints, master fundamental equations, examine step-by-step solved examples, and practice with real exam-grade mock test sets.
1. Fundamentals & Definitions
The word "Percentage" means "per hundred". It is a fraction whose denominator is always 100.
- Symbol:
% - Example:
20%means20/100or0.20.
Fraction to Percentage Conversion
To express a fraction a/b as a percent: (a/b * 100)%
- 1/2 = 50%
- 1/3 = 33.33% (or 33 1/3%)
- 1/4 = 25%
- 1/5 = 20%
- 1/6 = 16.66%
- 1/8 = 12.5%
- 1/10 = 10%
- 1/12 = 8.33%
Percentage to Fraction Conversion
To express x% as a fraction: x / 100
- 20% = 1/5
- 25% = 1/4
- 40% = 2/5
- 75% = 3/4
2. Core Concepts & Formulas
A. Comparison of Quantities
To express Quantity 1 as a percentage of Quantity 2:
Formula: (Quantity 1 / Quantity 2) * 100
B. Percentage Increase/Decrease
- Increase:
[(New Value - Old Value) / Old Value] * 100 - Decrease:
[(Old Value - New Value) / Old Value] * 100
C. Consumption and Expenditure
If the price of a commodity increases by R%, then the reduction in consumption needed to keep expenditure constant:
Formula: [R / (100 + R)] * 100%
If the price decreases by R%, the increase in consumption allowed:
Formula: [R / (100 - R)] * 100%
D. Population and Depreciation
Let P be the present population/value and R be the annual rate of change.
- Value after
nyears:P * (1 + R/100)^n(Use-for depreciation) - Value
nyears ago:P / (1 + R/100)^n(Use-for depreciation)
E. Comparative Income
- If A is
R%more than B, then B is less than A by:[R / (100 + R)] * 100% - If A is
R%less than B, then B is more than A by:[R / (100 - R)] * 100%
F. Successive Changes
If a value increases/decreases by X% and then by Y%:
Net Change: [X + Y + (XY / 100)]%
(Note: Use positive values for increase and negative values for decrease/discount)
Solved Examples
Question: 20 grams is what percentage of 1 kg?
Question: If the price of sugar increases by 10%, by how much should consumption be reduced to keep expenditure the same?
Question: A town's population was 245,000. It increased by 15% in year 1 and 20% in year 2. Find current population.
Question: If A's income is 40% more than B's, by what percentage is B's income less than A's?
Question: A merchant gives two successive discounts of 10% and 14%. Find the equivalent single discount.