The percent symbol means 'divided by 100' which means that the decimal point has to be moved two places to the left. The following examples demonstrate this:
| 2% |
= |
|
= |
0.02 |
| 15% |
= |
|
= |
0.15 |
| 150% |
= |
|
= |
1.5 |
| 200% |
= |
|
= |
2 |
| 12½% |
= |
12.5% |
= |
|
= |
0.125 |
|
|
= |
|
= |
0.33 |
correct to 2 decimal places |
Examples:
| 15% of £60 is the same as |
|
of £60 which is: |
| 4% of 150ml is the same as |
|
of 150ml which is: |
|
|
× 150ml = 0.04 × 150ml = 6ml |
Percentages which are more than 100% are less often found, but they can be interpreted in the usual way.
| 200% of £40 is the same as |
|
of £40 which is: |
|
Similarly; 120% of 50g is the same as
|
|
× 50g = 1.2 × 50g = 60g |