π Percentage and Average Calculations
π Part 1: Percentage Calculations
What Is a Percentage?
A percentage is a way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100. The word "percent" means "per hundred" and is denoted by the symbol %.
Formula:
Percentage = (Part / Whole) Γ 100
Understanding the Terms
- - Part: The portion or amount you want to find the percentage of.
- - Whole: The total or complete quantity.
π’ How to Calculate Percentage
Example 1: If 20 students out of 50 pass an exam:
Percentage = (20 / 50) Γ 100 = 40%
Example 2: What is 25% of 200?
= (25 / 100) Γ 200 = 50
π Types of Percentage Problems
-
1. Finding percentage of a number:
What is 30% of 150? β (30/100) Γ 150 = 45 -
2. Finding the whole from part and percentage:
40 is 20% of what? β Whole = (40 Γ 100) / 20 = 200 -
3. Finding the part:
What is 15% of 80? β (15/100) Γ 80 = 12 -
4. Percentage Increase:
% Increase = (Increase / Original) Γ 100 -
5. Percentage Decrease:
% Decrease = (Decrease / Original) Γ 100
πΉ Percentage Change Examples
β’ Increase Example: From $200 to $250 β Increase
= 50
% Increase = (50 / 200) Γ 100 = 25%
β’ Decrease Example: From $150 to $120 β Decrease
= 30
% Decrease = (30 / 150) Γ 100 = 20%
π Compound Percentage
When percentages are applied successively:
β’ Formula:
Total Change = p + q + (p Γ q) / 100
Example: Price increases by 10%, then 20%:
= 10 + 20 + (10Γ20)/100 = 32%
π Part 2: Average Calculations
What Is an Average?
An average (arithmetic mean) is the central value of a set of numbers, calculated as the sum divided by the count.
π Types of Averages
- β’ Arithmetic Mean: Sum / Count
- β’ Median: Middle value in ordered data
- β’ Mode: Most frequent value
π’ Arithmetic Mean Formula
Average = (Sum of all observations) / (Number of observations)
Example 1: Average of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25
Sum = 75, Count = 5 β Average = 75 / 5 = 15
Example 2: If average marks of 8 students is
75:
Total = 8 Γ 75 = 600
βοΈ Weighted Average
Formula:
Weighted Average = (β wi Γ xi) / β wi
Example: Marks = 80 in three subjects with
weights 2, 3, and 1:
= (80Γ2 + 80Γ3 + 80Γ1) / (2+3+1) = 480 / 6 = 80
π₯ Combining Averages
Formula:
Combined Average = (Avgβ Γ nβ + Avgβ Γ nβ) / (nβ + nβ)
Example: Class A: 30 students, Avg = 70
Class B: 25 students, Avg = 80
= (70Γ30 + 80Γ25) / (30 + 25) = 4100 / 55 =
~74.55
π Practical Uses of Percentage and Average
- π Finance: Profit/loss, interest rates
- π’ Business: Sales growth, KPIs
- π Education: Exam scores, attendance
- π₯ Health: Body fat %, average calories
- π Everyday life: Discounts, fuel efficiency
β Common Mistakes to Avoid
- β’ Confusing percentage with amount change
- β’ Not converting % to decimals before calculating
- β’ Mixing up part and whole
- β’ Using simple average when weighted is needed
- β’ Incorrectly merging group averages
π§© Practice Questions
- 1. What is 15% of 240?
- 2. If a TV costs $500 and price increases by 12%, what is the new price?
- 3. Find the average of: 45, 55, 65, 75, 85
- 4. Two classes with 30 and 25 students have averages 70 and 80 respectively. What is the overall average?
- 5. A townβs population grows 5% annually. What will it be in 2 years if it's now 20,000?
β Answers
- 1. 15% of 240 = (15/100) Γ 240 = 36
- 2. New price = 500 + (12% of 500) = 500 + 60 = 560
- 3. Average = (45 + 55 + 65 + 75 + 85) / 5 = 325 / 5 = 65
- 4. Combined average = (70Γ30 + 80Γ25) / 55 = 4100 / 55 = ~74.55
- 5. Year 1: 20000 Γ 1.05 = 21000 β Year 2: 21000 Γ 1.05 = 22050
π Conclusion
Mastering percentage and average calculations empowers you to analyze data effectively, make informed decisions, and solve practical problems efficiently. With practice and clarity in concepts, youβll gain speed, accuracy, and confidence in these essential mathematical tools.