Step-by-step solutions for the most common real-world percentage problems.
Calculate a 15% tip on a $60 restaurant bill
You're splitting a $60 dinner check and want to leave a 15% tip. This is the "what is X% of Y" operation, applied to the bill amount.
Formula: Tip = Bill × (Tip% ÷ 100)
- Convert the tip percentage to a decimal: 15 ÷ 100 = 0.15
- Multiply the bill by the decimal: 60 × 0.15 = 9
- Add the tip to the bill for the total: 60 + 9 = 69
Answer: $9 tip, $69 total
Find the sale price of a $89 jacket marked 20% off
A jacket normally costs $89 and the store is advertising "20% off." You want the final sticker price after the discount.
Formula: Sale price = Original × (1 − Discount% ÷ 100)
- Convert the discount percentage to a decimal: 20 ÷ 100 = 0.2
- Subtract from 1 to find the fraction you actually pay: 1 − 0.2 = 0.8
- Multiply the original price by that fraction: 89 × 0.8 = 71.20
Answer: $71.20 (you save $17.80)
Add 8.25% sales tax to a $42 purchase
The sticker price is $42 and the local sales tax rate is 8.25%. You want the total you'll actually pay at the register.
Formula: Total = Price × (1 + Tax% ÷ 100)
- Convert the tax rate to a decimal: 8.25 ÷ 100 = 0.0825
- Add 1 to get the multiplier (the "1" preserves the original price): 1 + 0.0825 = 1.0825
- Multiply the price by the multiplier: 42 × 1.0825 = 45.47 (rounded to 2 decimals)
Answer: $3.47 tax, $45.47 total
Your salary goes from $60,000 to $63,000 — what is the percentage raise?
You got a raise and want to know the exact percentage. This is the "percentage change" operation, going from an old value to a new one.
Formula: Change = ((New − Old) ÷ Old) × 100
- Subtract the old salary from the new: 63,000 − 60,000 = 3,000
- Divide by the old salary: 3,000 ÷ 60,000 = 0.05
- Multiply by 100 to convert to a percentage: 0.05 × 100 = 5
Answer: +5% raise ($3,000 more per year)
Scoring 42 out of 60 on a test — what percent is that?
You answered 42 out of 60 questions correctly. You want to convert that raw score into a percentage grade.
Formula: Percent = (Part ÷ Whole) × 100
- Divide your correct answers by the total: 42 ÷ 60 = 0.7
- Multiply by 100 to convert the decimal to a percentage: 0.7 × 100 = 70
Answer: 70% (a C- in most US grading scales)
A stock moves from $120 to $144 — what is the percentage change?
You bought a stock at $120 and it rose to $144. You want the exact percentage gain to compare against other investments.
Formula: Change = ((New − Old) ÷ |Old|) × 100
- Subtract the starting price from the ending price: 144 − 120 = 24
- Divide by the absolute value of the starting price: 24 ÷ 120 = 0.2
- Multiply by 100: 0.2 × 100 = 20
Answer: +20% gain on the position