What is a percentage?

A percentage is a way of writing a fraction with a denominator of 100. 'Per cent' means 'per hundred', so 25% means 25 out of 100, or one quarter. Percentages let you compare amounts on the same scale.

Examples

• 50% = 50 out of 100 = one half.
• 25% of 40 is 10.
• 100% means the whole amount.

Quick facts

• 10% is a tenth, so 10% of 200 is 20.
• Percentages, fractions and decimals can all describe the same amount: 50% = 1/2 = 0.5.