Working with Percentages

Finding percentages starts with understanding that you can break down any number into useful chunks. To find 1% of any number, simply divide by 100 - so 1% of 750 is 7.5, and 10% is 75.

When you need to convert fractions to percentages, multiply by 100. For example, if 29 out of 50 students are girls, you calculate 29/50 × 100 = 58%. It's that straightforward!

Calculating percentage amounts becomes much easier when you use the 10% trick. To find 15% of 650, first work out 10% (which is 65), then 5% (which is half of 10%, so 32.5), then add them together to get 97.5.

Top Tip: Always start by finding 10% and 1% - you can build any percentage from these basic building blocks!

Price changes follow the same logic. If a £260 TV decreases by 20%, find 20% first (which is £52), then subtract from the original price to get £208.

Compound interest gets trickier because the percentage applies to a growing amount each year. Sebastian's £3000 at 2% becomes £3060 after year one, then you calculate 2% of £3060 (which is £61.20) to get £3121.20 after year two.