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      Checking and securing understanding of finding a percentage

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe one number as a percentage of another and calculate a given percentage of an amount efficiently.

      Key learning points

      1. Percentages can be written as a fraction out of 100
      2. One number can be written as a fraction of another.
      3. Representations can support the finding a percentage of a quantity.
      4. A percentage can be written as a decimal called a multiplier.
      5. This multiplier can be used to find a percentage of an amount.

      Keywords

      • Equivalent fractions - Two fractions are equivalent if they have the same value.

      Common misconception

      A single digit percentage is incorrectly worked out by dividing by 10 and not 100 e.g 3% = 0.3

      Two responses can be used to remind students that to covert a percentage into a decimal; we divide by 100; using 3%, ask what 30% is as a decimal and 3% as a decimal. Pupils realise they cannot be the same. A place value chart also helps.

      Teacher tip

      Using a multiplier is a more effective way to calculate a percentage of an amount. Can they write the calculation to work out 35% of 23% of 11% of 140? Alternatively, can they write a question for the calculation 0.62 x 0.78 x 0.56 x 950?

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Find 10% of 26

      Correct Answer: 2.6

      Q2.
      Find 50% of 48

      Correct Answer: 24

      Q3.
      Find 20% of 45

      Correct Answer: 9

      Q4.
      Find 1% of 60

      Correct Answer: 0.6

      Q5.
      If £4 is 20% of what I have, how much do I have overall?

      Correct Answer: £20, 20

      Q6.
      If £5 is 2% of the money I have, how much money do I have altogether?

      Correct Answer: 250, £250

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Write 42 as a percentage of 200

      Correct Answer: 21, 21%

      Q2.
      Write 90 as a percentage of 225

      Correct Answer: 40, 40%

      Q3.
      Write 312 as a percentage of 120

      Correct Answer: 260, 260%

      Q4.
      Find 24% of 70

      Correct Answer: 16.8

      Q5.
      Find 14% of 125

      Correct Answer: 17.5

      Q6.
      Find 45% of 210

      Correct Answer: 94.5

      To help you plan your 10 maths lesson on: Checking and securing understanding of finding a percentage, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...