Find a Percent of a Number

This number is what percent of that number?
(This trick works with hand held calculators and 10-key adding machines, but not with your computer's calculator)

I am surprised how often this question comes up. Here is an example of what the title means.

On my paycheck I made             $720.00

My union dues cost                    $ 43.20

What percent of my paycheck goes to union dues? Here is how to solve this type of question, you will need a calculator.

___________ ÷ _____________ %

Small number         Large number

Type that into a calculator, 43.20 ÷ 720 % (Don’t press the = button).

The answer is 6. The union takes out 6% of your paycheck for dues.

Here is another example, you need at least 12% of the votes to be nominated. There are 568 people voting. You received 72 votes, what percentage of the votes did you get?

72 is what percent of 568? Type into a calculator:

72 ÷ 568 % don’t press the = button. Only press 7 buttons, 7 2 ÷ 5 6 8 % the answer will be 12.676056, just over 12%. You received 12% of the votes, you will be nominated!

Anytime you want to know what percent one number is of another number type this into a calculator,

Small number ÷ bigger number %

        #          ÷      #       %

This number is what percent of that number?(This trick works with hand held calculators and 10-key adding machines, but not with your computer's calculator)

This number is what percent of that number?
(This trick works with hand held calculators and 10-key adding machines, but not with your computer's calculator)