Mastering Percentages
Percentages are just another way of writing proportions, but out of 100 instead of the actual total. The key building blocks are finding 1% (divide by 100) and 10% (divide by 10) - everything else builds from these.
Percentage change uses the formula: difference ÷ original × 100%. For increasing or decreasing by percentages, you can either find the percentage amount and add/subtract it, or use percentage multipliers (like 1.12 for a 12% increase or 0.88 for a 12% decrease).
Reverse percentages trip up loads of students, but remember to identify what percentage you actually have first. If something costs £45 after a 10% discount, that £45 represents 90% of the original price, not 100%.
The module wraps up with simple interest (just percentage of the original amount each year) and the essential speed, distance, time triangle - speed equals distance divided by time.
Exam Hack: For reverse percentages, look for words like 'after', 'following', or 'reduced to' - these tell you the given amount isn't 100%.