Functional Skills Maths L2

Percentages Masterclass

Introduction to Percentages

Percentages are used in everyday life - from calculating discounts in shops to working out interest rates on loans. A percentage is a fraction expressed as parts per hundred (the meaning of "per cent").

In this session, we'll cover the 5 key percentage topics you need to know for your Functional Skills Maths Level 2 exam.

1. Percentage of an Amount

Basic

To find a percentage of an amount, you can:

  1. Convert the percentage to a decimal (divide by 100) and multiply by the amount
  2. Find 1% (divide by 100) and multiply by the percentage you want
  3. Use equivalent fractions (e.g., 50% = ½)

Example:

Find 15% of £80

Method 1: 15 ÷ 100 = 0.15, then 0.15 × 80 = £12

Method 2: 1% of 80 = £0.80, then 15 × 0.80 = £12

Skills Check

1. Calculate 30% of £250

2. What is 8.5% of 400kg?

2. Percentage Increase

Intermediate

To increase an amount by a percentage:

  1. Calculate the percentage of the amount
  2. Add this to the original amount
  3. Alternatively, multiply by (100% + percentage increase) as a decimal

Example:

Increase £60 by 15%

Method 1: 15% of 60 = £9, then 60 + 9 = £69

Method 2: 60 × 1.15 = £69 (100% + 15% = 115% = 1.15)

Skills Check

1. A laptop costs £450. The price increases by 20%. What is the new price?

2. A train ticket costs £120. The price increases by 8.5%. What is the new price?

3. Percentage Decrease

Intermediate

To decrease an amount by a percentage:

  1. Calculate the percentage of the amount
  2. Subtract this from the original amount
  3. Alternatively, multiply by (100% - percentage decrease) as a decimal

Example:

Decrease £80 by 30%

Method 1: 30% of 80 = £24, then 80 - 24 = £56

Method 2: 80 × 0.70 = £56 (100% - 30% = 70% = 0.70)

Skills Check

1. A coat is priced at £95. It's reduced by 40% in a sale. What is the sale price?

2. A company's profits were £120,000 last year. This year they decreased by 12.5%. What is this year's profit?

4. Expressing as a Percentage

Intermediate

To express one quantity as a percentage of another:

  1. Divide the first quantity by the second quantity
  2. Multiply by 100
  3. Add the % symbol

Example:

Express 18 out of 60 as a percentage

18 ÷ 60 = 0.3, then 0.3 × 100 = 30%

Skills Check

1. In a class of 30 students, 18 are girls. What percentage are girls?

2. A test is marked out of 80. A student scores 68 marks. What percentage is this?

5. Percentage Change

Advanced

To calculate percentage increase or decrease:

  1. Find the difference between the new and original amounts
  2. Divide the difference by the original amount
  3. Multiply by 100

Example:

A house price increases from £200,000 to £230,000. What is the percentage increase?

Difference = 230,000 - 200,000 = £30,000

30,000 ÷ 200,000 = 0.15

0.15 × 100 = 15% increase

Skills Check

1. A car's value drops from £12,000 to £9,600. What is the percentage decrease?

2. A shop's daily sales increase from £850 to £1,105. What is the percentage increase?

Final Quiz

Test your knowledge with this 10-question quiz covering all percentage topics. You need to score at least 7/10 (70%) to pass.

1. What is 45% of 320?

2. A meal costs £28 before VAT at 20%. What is the total cost including VAT?

3. A jumper priced at £45 is reduced by 30% in a sale. What is the sale price?

4. A phone contract increases from £24 per month to £27 per month. What is the percentage increase?

5. In a survey of 500 people, 325 said they preferred tea to coffee. What percentage is this?

6. Calculate 17.5% of £480

7. A train fare of £180 is reduced by 15% for students. What do students pay?

8. A company's workforce increases from 120 to 150 employees. What is the percentage increase?

9. In a packet of 60 sweets, 36 are fruit flavored. What percentage is this?

10. A house was valued at £240,000 last year. Its value has decreased by 5% this year. What is its current value?