MathishaGammanpila

Percentage Toolkit

The four percentage questions that cover 99% of real life — including the reverse one everyone gets wrong (a 12% increase is undone by dividing, not subtracting).

What is X% of Y?

of Y

Answer

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X is what % of Y?

Answer

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% change from A to B — the variance question

From A

To B

Answer

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Reverse: what was it before the change? — the one everyone gets wrong

Value now

After a change of

Original value

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If something rose 12% to 450,000 it was not 450,000 − 12%. It was 450,000 ÷ 1.12. Use a negative % for decreases.