Compare quantities using percent

A percent represents a ratio to 100, so comparing quantities requires identifying the reference quantity (the whole) and expressing one quantity as a fraction, decimal, or percent of it. The understanding includes determining what percent one quantity is of another and describing one quantity as a specified percent more or less than a reference, recognizing that the comparison changes when the reference changes; compound growth, successive percent changes, and percent error are not included.

Detailed Explanation: Compare quantities using percent

A percent tells how many parts there are out of $100$ . To compare two quantities:

Identify the reference quantity, or whole. This is the quantity you are comparing to.
Write the other quantity as a fraction of the reference quantity.
Convert the fraction to a decimal or percent.

Example: Mia has $18$ stickers, and Noah has $24$ stickers. What percent of Noah’s stickers does Mia have?

The reference quantity is Noah’s $24$ stickers because Mia’s amount is being compared to Noah’s amount.

Write the comparison as a fraction:

\frac{18}{24}

Simplify:

\frac{18}{24}=\frac{3}{4}

Convert $\frac{3}{4}$ to a percent:

\frac{3}{4}=0.75=75\%

So, Mia has $75\%$ as many stickers as Noah.

Because $75\%$ is $25\%$ less than $100\%$ , Mia has $25\%$ fewer stickers than Noah. The reference matters: changing the reference quantity would change the percent comparison.

Learn by doing: Compare quantities using percent

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Percent - one number of another (10% multiples)

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Compare quantities using percent

Detailed Explanation: Compare quantities using percent

Learn by doing: Compare quantities using percent

Practice with unlimited practice problems

Practice:

Percent - one number of another (10% multiples)