Percent Concepts

Grade 6 Mathematics

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The Big Idea

PERCENT means "per 100" or "out of 100."

The symbol % came from writing "per 100" quickly!

50% means 50 out of 100, which equals 1/2 or 0.5

Memorize These Benchmark Percents!

Percent Fraction Decimal
100%1/1 = 11.0
50%1/20.5
25%1/40.25
75%3/40.75
10%1/100.1
20%1/50.2

Converting Between Forms

1

Percent to Decimal: Divide by 100 (move decimal LEFT 2 places)
45% = 45 / 100 = 0.45

2

Decimal to Percent: Multiply by 100 (move decimal RIGHT 2 places)
0.72 = 0.72 x 100 = 72%

3

Fraction to Percent: Divide numerator by denominator, then convert to percent
3/5 = 3 / 5 = 0.6 = 60%

4

Percent to Fraction: Write over 100, then simplify
40% = 40/100 = 2/5

Finding Percent of a Number

Find 30% of 80

1

Convert percent to decimal: 30% = 0.30

2

Multiply: 0.30 x 80 = 24

Shortcut using benchmarks:

10% of 80 = 8 (just move decimal left once!)

30% = 3 x 10% = 3 x 8 = 24

TRAP ALERT: Decimal Direction!

WRONG: 0.45 as a percent = 0.45% (NO! This is way too small!)

RIGHT: 0.45 as a percent = 45% (Move decimal RIGHT 2 places)

Memory trick: Percent looks BIGGER than decimal, so when converting decimal to percent, the number gets BIGGER!

TRAP ALERT: "Of" Means Multiply!

WRONG: 25% of 80 = 25 + 80 = 105

RIGHT: 25% of 80 = 0.25 x 80 = 20 (Convert percent to decimal, then MULTIPLY)

Your Turn: Convert and Calculate

1. Convert to percent:

a) 0.35 = %    b) 0.8 = %    c) 0.05 = %

2. Convert to decimal:

a) 60% =    b) 5% =    c) 125% =

3. Convert fraction to percent:

a) 1/4 = %    b) 3/5 = %    c) 7/10 = %

4. Find the percent of each number:

a) 50% of 120 =    b) 25% of 80 =    c) 10% of 45 =

5. A video game costs $60. It's on sale for 20% off. How much is the discount?

Show work: 20% of $60 = x = $ discount

Remember!