How to Solve Percentages — Step by Step Guide

Step-by-Step Method

1. 1

   To find x% of a number: multiply the number by x/100.

2. 2

   To find what percentage A is of B: calculate (A/B) × 100.

3. 3

   For percentage increase: ((New - Original) / Original) × 100.

4. 4

   For percentage decrease: ((Original - New) / Original) × 100.

5. 5

   For successive percentages, apply each percentage one after the other — do not simply add them.

Worked Example

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ✗

  Adding successive percentage changes instead of applying them one at a time.

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  Using the wrong base when calculating percentage change.

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  Confusing percentage of with percentage more than.

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  Forgetting that a 20% decrease followed by a 20% increase does NOT return to the original value.

Practice Percentages on SparkEd

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I solve Percentages problems?

To find x% of a number: multiply the number by x/100. To find what percentage A is of B: calculate (A/B) × 100.

What are common mistakes in Percentages?

Adding successive percentage changes instead of applying them one at a time. Using the wrong base when calculating percentage change.

Which class covers Percentages?

Percentages is typically taught in Class 5, 6, 7, 8. SparkEd has free practice for all these grades.

Where can I practise Percentages for free?

SparkEd offers free chapter-wise practice for Percentages aligned to CBSE, ICSE, and IB curricula. Visit sparkedmaths.com to start.