Percentage · lesson 9 of 20 · free

Find the whole from a percent — How to calculate percentage

Sometimes you know a part and its percent, but not the whole: “20% of a number is 14. What is the number?” Work back from the percent you know to 100%.

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How to work it out

Back to 100% — “whole = part × 100 ÷ percent”

  1. Write what you know: p% is a.
  2. The whole (100%) = a × 100 ÷ p.
  3. Check: p% of your answer must give a back.

Use it for: Finding the full amount of pocket money or a class from a percent, and the Class 8 comparing-quantities chapter.

🧮 Check your own sums with the free Percentage calculator — it shows the working.

Worked example: 20% of a number is 14. What is the number? → 70

  1. 20% is 14. The whole is 100%, so whole = 14 ÷ 20 × 100.
  2. 14 × 100 = 1400.
  3. 1400 ÷ 20 = 70. Check: 20% of 70 is 14 ✓

Check: 20% of 70 = 70 ÷ 5 = 14 ✓

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✏️ Practice

Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.

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🏁 Lesson 9 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

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🖨️ Reverse Percentage Worksheet

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