Year 6 · Mathematics
Percentages for Year 6: finding a percentage of an amount and discounts
Percent means “out of 100”. Percentages are everywhere — sales, test results, battery levels — and once you can find 10% of an amount, you can work out almost any percentage in your head.
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Try asking: “What is 25% of 80?”
Fractions, decimals and percentages
- 50% = 1/2 = 0.5
- 25% = 1/4 = 0.25
- 10% = 1/10 = 0.1
- 75% = 3/4 = 0.75
The 10% method
To find 10% of an amount, divide by 10. From there you can build other percentages: 5% is half of 10%, 20% is double 10%, and 15% is 10% plus 5%.
Discounts
A discount is a percentage taken off the price. Find the percentage of the price, then subtract it from the original price.
Worked examples
What is 15% of 80?
- 10% of 80 = 8.
- 5% is half of that: 5% of 80 = 4.
- 8 + 4 = 12.
Answer: 12
What is 35% of 60?
- 10% of 60 = 6, so 30% of 60 = 18.
- 5% of 60 = 3.
- 18 + 3 = 21.
Answer: 21
A $40 jacket is 25% off. What is the sale price?
- 25% is a quarter, so 25% of 40 = 10.
- 40 − 10 = 30.
Answer: $30
Common mistakes to watch for
- Forgetting to subtract the discount from the original price.
- Thinking a percentage can never be more than 100% — 150% of 20 is 30.
Practice questions
Try these, then reveal the answers. For more questions with hints, use the tutor.
1. What is 20% of 45?
Show answer
9
2. What is 50% of 36?
Show answer
18
3. What is 75% of 80?
Show answer
60
4. Write 0.35 as a percentage. (Just the number.)
Show answer
35
5. A $50 game is 30% off. What is the sale price?
Show answer
$35