Determining 6% of a Given Number

Finding a percentage of a number is a handy skill that is useful in a wide variety of tasks, from finishing homework assignments to choosing reasonable sale prices at the store. Finding out how much 6 percent is of a number takes only a short time and you can approach it in a couple different ways.

1. Convert Percentage to Decimal

Turn 6 percent into a number you can multiply. To do this, find the decimal equivalent of 6 percent. Since the decimal equivalent of any percentage is the number over 100, 6 percent is 6/100, i.e., 0.06.

2. Multiply by the Decimal

Multiply 0.06 times the number from which you are seeking 6 percent. For example, to find 6 percent of 100, work out 0.06 x 100 = 6. Another example: 6 percent of 75 is 0.06 x 75 = 4.5.

3. Try Fractions Instead of Decimals

Consider an alternative approach if you struggling by using fractions rather than decimals. For example, 6 percent of 100 using this alternative route means multiplying 100 by the fractional equivalent of 6 percent, which is 6/100. The new fraction is 600/100, which can be reduced, by dividing both sides by 100, to 6/1 or simply 6. Another example: 6 percent of 75 is 6/100 times 75, which is 450/100, or 4.5.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

These instructions work for all percentages, not just 6 percent of a number. Use the same process to find 5 percent, 10 percent or any other percent.

Warning

If you need to find 6 percent of a number as part of a school assignment, your teacher may have taught a specific method. Refer to your notes to make sure you use the right method.