Fractions such as one quarter or one half are relatively easy to understand particularly in relation to one dollar but when you start getting into other percentages and higher dollar figures, it can become more confusing unless you develop the ability to make it simple for yourself. Percentages will be used often in your daily life – to determine how much to leave for a tip for service in a restaurant or to decide how much of an increase to give someone for a raise.

Learning to keep it simple will make your ability to cope easily with life’s mathematical problems! Think of it this way – 100% of any number is the actual number itself. Therefore 200% of a number is just two times the number and so forth. Any percentage of a number can be found by changing the percentage to a decimal

If you want to leave a 15% tip think of it this way – 15% equals 15/100 or multiply the bill by 0.15. It can be written as .15 or as 15% and still mean the same thing. If the bill is $29.85 you will multiply it by .15 since it is fifteen one hundredths out of one hundred percent. The amount equals $4.4775 or $.48 if you round it to the nearest penny. Likewise if the bill is $298.50 you will still multiply by .15 but the decimal will move over one place making the tip $44.775 or $44.78 when you round it up to nearest penny.

If your home has increased in value by 25% you would multiply the original value of $250,000 times 125% or 125 times $250,000 which equals $312,500. This means your home has increased in value by $62,500. You determine this amount by subtracting the new value of $312,500 minus its original value of $250,000 giving you the number.