How to Calculate Percentage Between Two Numbers?

How to Calculate Percentage Between Two Numbers

Calculating the percentage between two numbers is a basic yet essential mathematical concept, widely used in finance, statistics, education, and everyday situations. This guide explains the different methods to find percentages, with simple and clear examples.

What Is a Percentage?

A percentage represents a portion of a whole, expressed as a fraction of 100. It is denoted by the percent symbol (%).
For example, 50% simply means 50 out of 100.

The Basic Formula for Percentage

The general formula to calculate the percentage between two numbers is:

Percentage = (Part / Whole) × 100

Example:

If you scored 80 marks out of 100, your percentage is:

(80 ÷ 100) × 100 = 80%

How to Find the Percentage Difference Between Two Numbers

To calculate how much a number has increased or decreased compared to another, use:

Percentage Difference = [(New Value - Old Value) / Old Value] × 100

Example:

If a product’s price rises from $50 to $75, then:

(75 - 50) ÷ 50 × 100 = 50% increase

Calculating Percentage Decrease

If a value drops instead of rising, the formula is:

Percentage Decrease = [(Old Value - New Value) / Old Value] × 100

Example:

If a stock price falls from $100 to $80, then:

(100 - 80) ÷ 100 × 100 = 20% decrease

Real-Life Uses of Percentage

Percentages play an important role in everyday activities, such as:

• Calculating discounts, sales tax, and tips.

• Understanding interest rates and loan payments.

• Measuring growth or decline in business or finance.

• Interpreting data, surveys, and statistical reports.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to calculate percentages is a simple but powerful skill that can be applied in countless real-life situations.
By mastering these formulas and understanding how they work, you can confidently handle financial decisions, analyze data, and make accurate comparisons.