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How to Calculate Percentages: Formula, Worked Examples & Practice

Published: 14.05.2026·Updated: 15.10.2026
Nadia Rahmawati

Nadia Rahmawati

Math Curriculum Team, Algonova

How to Calculate Percentages: Formula, Worked Examples & Practice

How to calculate a percentage uses the formula Percentage = (Part ÷ Total) × 100%. For example, 45 correct out of 60 questions is (45 ÷ 60) × 100% = 75%. The same formula covers discounts, taxes and price rises. It is first taught in Year 5.

The Three Forms

  • Find the percentage: (Part ÷ Total) × 100%
  • Find the part: (Percentage ÷ 100) × Total
  • Find the total: (Part ÷ Percentage) × 100

Worked Examples

  • 45 of 60: 75%.
  • 25% discount on Rp200,000: Rp50,000, final price Rp150,000.
  • Rp60,000 is 30% of pocket money: total Rp200,000.
  • 15% of 80 = 0.15 × 80 = 12, not 1,200.
  • Price from Rp40,000 to Rp48,000: up 20%.

Discounts

Final price = original price × (100 − discount%) ÷ 100. A Rp350,000 pair of shoes at 40% off costs Rp210,000. Stacked discounts of 50% and 20% give Rp160,000 from Rp400,000, which equals 60% off, not 70%. With 11% VAT, Rp100,000 less 20% is Rp80,000, then Rp88,800.

Summary

Convert the percent to a decimal first. Algonova has helped more than 1,000,000 students in 97 countries, with a free 45-minute maths diagnostic.