What Percent Is One Number of Another?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 10, 2020

To find what percentage one number is of another; divide the first number by the other number and multiply by 100. For example, four is 50 percent of eight because four divided by eight is 1/2. One-half multiplied by 100 is 50.

Percent really means per hundred, so finding the percent really means what is the equivalent fraction for the two numbers out of 100. Percents are useful for showing how much of the total amount any number accounts for. They are important in math, science, accounting, and business because they help communicate the sizes of different variables. A calculator is an invaluable tool when calculating percentages because once the formula is known it is easy to enter the numbers and find percentages.