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percentage
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percentage

Way of representing a number as a fraction of 100. For example, 45 percent (45%) equals 45/100, and 45% of 20 is 45/100 × 20 = 9.

Percentage increase/decrease

In general, if a quantity changes from one value to another then

percentage = 100 × (difference in the values)/old value

For example, in a sale the price of a bicycle is reduced from £120 to £90, that is there is a discount of £30. The percentage decrease is 100 × 30/120 = 25%.

Fractions as percentages

To express a fraction as a percentage, its denominator must first be converted to 100. For example, value-added tax (VAT) as a fraction is 7/40:

7/40 = 17.5/100 = 17.5%

The use of percentages often makes it easier to compare fractions that do not have a common denominator (a number divisible by both the bottom numbers), for instance when comparing rates of inflation or rates of simple interest.

To convert a fraction to a percentage on a calculator, divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100. The percentage will correspond to the first two figures of the decimal; for example, 7/12 = 0.5833333 = 58.3% (correct to 1 decimal place), and 7/32 = 0.21875 = 21.9% (correct to 1 decimal place).

The percentage sign is thought to have been derived as an economy measure when recording in old counting houses; writing in the numeric symbol for 25/100 would take two lines of parchment, and hence the ‘100’ denominator was put alongside the 25 and rearranged to ‘%’.
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I don't know if it's because there's now more pressure on coaches to win at all costs, but a lot of teams are preferring to kick and play the percentages.
ENDANGERED SPECIES; RUGBY UNION KICKED INTO TOUCH by The Mirror (London, England)
Every shot you do have to think about - you can miss it in some spots that are just impossible to get up and down from, you have just got to play the percentages and know that on some holes, par is going to be a good score for the week," he added.
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His high-risk style of play and refusal to play the percentages can be infuriating at times, but there is no doubt that he is a highly talented performer at his best - he made the semi-finals of the US Open in 2005.
Lawn Tennis: On-song Ginepri can keep up run; MADRID MASTERS Sky ... by The Racing Post (London, England)
 
 
 
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