Percent

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Percent (often denoted by the symbol "%" for "per cent", meaning "per hundred" in Latin) is a dimensionless ratio derived from a pure number denoted as a fraction of 100. It is often used to express a proportionate part of a total.

Usage[edit | edit source]

Percentages are used to express how large or small one quantity is relative to another quantity. The first quantity usually represents a part of, or a change in, the second quantity, which should be greater than zero.

Calculation[edit | edit source]

The percentage is defined as the quantity expressed as a fraction of 100. It is said to be "per cent" or "out of hundred". If the quantity is a fraction of 100, it is said to be a percentage. The symbol used to denote percentage is "%".

History[edit | edit source]

The concept of percentage has been used for a long time, but the symbol (as well as the term) did not come into use until the 16th century.

In mathematics[edit | edit source]

In mathematics, the percentage is used to denote a ratio or fraction out of 100. This can be used in equations and mathematical expressions.

In finance[edit | edit source]

In finance, percentages are used in a variety of ways, such as interest rates, rates of return, and percentage changes in values.

In science[edit | edit source]

In science, percentages are used in a variety of ways, such as concentration of a solution, error rates, growth rates, and so on.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Percent Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD