How to Figure Out Percentage on a Calculator

April 24, 2025 3 min read

Need to crunch some percentage numbers quickly? Whether it's for splitting a bill, understanding a discount, or just plain homework, knowing how to figure out percentage on a calculator is a handy skill. This guide will walk you through the basics and show you how our easy-to-use percentage calculator can make things even simpler.

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Understanding the Basics of Percentage Calculations

Percentages are all around us, representing a part of a whole. Here's a quick review of the three main types of percentage problems you'll likely encounter:

  • Finding a percentage of a number: What is 15% of 200?
  • Determining what percentage one number is of another: 30 is what percent of 150?
  • Calculating percentage increase or decrease: Going from 80 to 100 is what percentage increase?

Solving Percentage Problems with a Basic Calculator

While a dedicated percentage calculator is often the quickest way, you can also solve these problems using a standard calculator with a few simple steps.

1. Finding a Percentage of a Number

To find X% of Y, multiply X by Y, then divide by 100. For example, to find 25% of 80:

  1. Enter 25
  2. Press the multiplication key (*)
  3. Enter 80
  4. Press the equals key (=)
  5. Divide the result by 100

The answer is 20.

2. Determining What Percentage One Number Is of Another

To find what percentage X is of Y, divide X by Y, then multiply by 100. For example, to find what percentage 40 is of 200:

  1. Enter 40
  2. Press the division key (/)
  3. Enter 200
  4. Press the equals key (=)
  5. Multiply the result by 100

The answer is 20%.

3. Calculating Percentage Increase or Decrease

To calculate the percentage change from an old value (OV) to a new value (NV):

  1. Subtract the old value from the new value: (NV - OV)
  2. Divide the result by the old value: (NV - OV) / OV
  3. Multiply the result by 100.

For example, if a price increases from $50 to $60:

  1. 60 - 50 = 10
  2. 10 / 50 = 0.2
  3. 0.2 * 100 = 20%

The price increased by 20%.

The Easy Way: Using Our Percentage Calculator

While these manual calculations work, they can be time-consuming. Our percentage calculator simplifies these tasks. It's designed to quickly solve these three common percentage problems, saving you time and effort.

  • Find X% of Y: Quickly determine the result.
  • X is What % of Y: See what percentage one number represents of another.
  • Percentage Increase/Decrease: Determine the relative change between two values.

Benefits of Using Our Calculator

  • Speed: Get instant results without manual calculations.
  • Accuracy: Avoid errors that can occur with manual calculations.
  • Convenience: Access it from any device – phone, tablet, or computer.

Stop crunching numbers the hard way. Whether you need to find a discount, calculate a tip, or analyze data, our percentage calculator is the perfect tool. Give it a try and see how easy percentage calculations can be!