How Percentage is Used in Daily Life

In mathematics, a percentage is a number or ratio that can be expressed as a fraction of 100. If we have to calculate percent of a number, divide the number by the whole and multiply by 100. The word percent means, a part per hundred. The word percent means per 100. It is represented by the symbol “%”. Since a percentage is a ratio, it is a dimensionless number.

Percentage

Examples of percentages are:

• 10% is equal to a 1/10 fraction
• 20% is equivalent to ⅕ fraction
• 25% is equivalent to ¼ fraction
• 50% is equivalent to ½ fraction
• 75% is equivalent to ¾ fraction
• 90% is equivalent to a 9/10 fraction

Percentages have no dimension. Hence it is called a dimensionless number. 50% of a number means 50 per cent of the total. 

Percentages can also be represented in decimal or fraction form, such as 0.6%, 0.25%, etc. In academics, the marks obtained in any subject are calculated in terms of percentage. Like, Nisha got 78% of marks in her final exam. So, this percentage is calculated on account of the total marks obtained by Nisha, in all subjects to the total marks.

What are the ways in which percentages are used in daily life?

Percentages are often used for calculations involving money. THe concept of per cent is very important and can be used in almost all aspects of life. Percentages are used in many types of problems and situations. Applications of Percentages help you solve different types of real-life percent problems. Some of the important applications of percentage are: 

• The percentage is used to compare numerical data and compare data by corporations, firms, governments, schools and colleges.
• The percentage is used by shopkeepers and companies to calculate the profit/loss percentage on the goods sold.
• The percentage is used by Banks and financial institutions to calculate interest % on loans, fixed deposits, and savings accounts.
• Per cent is also used by economists to calculate the growth rate, inflation rate etc.
• It is also used for many other rates like depreciation rate on cars, trucks, and other vehicles.

For better understanding, we have provided a step by step explanation of all the Problems with Percentages.

1. In a survey of 100 students, 60% of students liked Science, and the rest of the students liked Arts. How many students liked Science?

Solution:

Total Number of Students Participated in the Survey = 100

60% of Students liked Science = 60/100*100

= 60

Therefore, 60 Students Liked Science.

2. Father’s Weight is 30 % more than that of his son. What Percent is Son’s Weight Less than Father’s Weight?

Solution:

Let Son’s Weight be 100 Kg

Father’s weight is 30% more than son’s i.e., 130 Kg

If Father’s Weight is 130kg then Son’s weight is 100kg

If Father’s Weight = 1 kilogram, then Son’s Weight = 130/100 kilograms

If Father’s Weight = 100kilograms, then Son’s Weight is (100/130*100) Kilograms

Thus, Son’s Weight is 23.08 % less compared to his father’s.

3. What number is 30% of 90?

Solution:

Let the number to be m

30% of m = 90

30/100*m = 90

m = (90*100)/30

= 9000/30

= 300

Therefore, the number is 300.

4. A fruit seller had some apples. He sells 40% apples and still has 420 apples. Originally, he had how many apples?

Solution:

Let he had N apples, originally.

Now, as per the given question, we have;

(100 – 40) % of N = 420

⇒ (60/100) × N = 420

⇒ N = (420 × 100/60) = 700

5. Out of two numbers, 40% of the greater number is equal to 60% of the smaller. If the sum of the numbers is 150, then the greater number is?

Solution:

Let X be the greater number.

∴ Smaller number = 150 – X {given that the sum of two numbers is 150}

According to the question,

(40 × X)/100 = 60(150 – X)/100

⇒ 2p = 3 × 150 – 3X

⇒ 5X = 3 × 150

⇒ X = 90

Percentage: Properties

• The percentage value of a number is arrived at by multiplying by 100 and by dividing the whole value.
• The percentage can be expressed as a decimal and a fraction.
• The percentage is used in our day-to-day lives in calculating various things like profit/loss percentage, data comparison growth rates, and many more. 
• When it comes to elections, percentages are used to express votes cast for different candidates.

Conclusion

The term “percentage” refers to the number of parts per hundred. The most     basic use of percentages is to compare two quantities. In this article, we discussed the basics related to percentages that include the definitions of percentages, formulas, uses, properties, and problems based on it. This article helps in better understanding the topic of “percentage”, especially its various uses and applications in daily life.