Worked example 1
Find 35% of £80.
- 10% of £80 = £8
- 30% = 3 × £8 = £24
- 5% = half of 10% = £4
- 35% = £24 + £4
Answer: £28
Maths for adults · Everyday numeracy
Percentages practice for adults
Percentages turn up in pay rises, discounts, interest and statistics. This sheet builds from simple percentages of amounts to percentage change.
Learn
How it works
Per cent means 'out of 100'. 25% is 25 out of 100, which is a quarter.
A reliable mental method: find 10% by dividing by 10, 1% by dividing by 100, then build the percentage you need. 35% = 3 × 10% + 5%.
Percentage change = (difference ÷ original) × 100. Always divide by the original amount, not the new one.
Worked example 2
A rent rises from £750 to £810. What is the percentage increase?
- Difference = £810 − £750 = £60
- £60 ÷ £750 = 0.08
- 0.08 × 100 = 8
Answer: 8%
Try it
Practice sheet
Everyday numeracy · Standard
Percentages
NameDate
Work out each answer. Show your working in the space.
- 1.Find 5% of £400.
- 2.Find 12.5% of £920.
- 3.Find 45% of £400.
- 4.Find 60% of £1120.
- 5.Find 45% of £340.
- 6.Find 12.5% of £580.
- 7.Find 35% of £400.
- 8.Find 12.5% of £1140.
- 9.Find 12.5% of £1200.
- 10.Find 12.5% of £1180.
- 11.Find 35% of £900.
- 12.Find 5% of £740.
Answers and explanations
- Find 5% of £400.£20.005 ÷ 100 × £400 = £20.00.
- Find 12.5% of £920.£115.0012.5 ÷ 100 × £920 = £115.00.
- Find 45% of £400.£180.0045 ÷ 100 × £400 = £180.00.
- Find 60% of £1120.£672.0060 ÷ 100 × £1120 = £672.00.
- Find 45% of £340.£153.0045 ÷ 100 × £340 = £153.00.
- Find 12.5% of £580.£72.5012.5 ÷ 100 × £580 = £72.50.
- Find 35% of £400.£140.0035 ÷ 100 × £400 = £140.00.
- Find 12.5% of £1140.£142.5012.5 ÷ 100 × £1140 = £142.50.
- Find 12.5% of £1200.£150.0012.5 ÷ 100 × £1200 = £150.00.
- Find 12.5% of £1180.£147.5012.5 ÷ 100 × £1180 = £147.50.
- Find 35% of £900.£315.0035 ÷ 100 × £900 = £315.00.
- Find 5% of £740.£37.005 ÷ 100 × £740 = £37.00.
Last reviewed: 25 September 2026