1
Convert percentage to decimal: 24% = 24/100 = 0.24
3
Break it down: 850 × 0.24 = 850 × (20/100 + 4/100)
4
Calculate: 850 × 0.20 = 170, and 850 × 0.04 = 34
5
Add: 170 + 34 = 204
Answer: 24% of 850 = 204
Worked Example 2: What percentage is 156 of 240?
1
Use formula: Percentage = (Part/Whole) × 100
2
Substitute values: (156/240) × 100
3
Simplify fraction: 156/240 = 13/20 (dividing by 12)
4
Convert to decimal: 13/20 = 0.65
5
Multiply by 100: 0.65 × 100 = 65%
Answer: 156 is 65% of 240
Shortcut 3 - The Unitary Method for Percentages:
If x% = y, then 1% = y/x, and 100% = (y × 100)/x
This eliminates complex calculations in competitive exams.
Common Mistake - The #1 Trap: Students confuse 'percentage of' with 'percentage more than'. For example, if A is 20% of B, it does NOT mean A is 20% more than B. '20% of B' means A = 0.20 × B. But '20% more than B' means A = B + 0.20 × B = 1.20 × B. This confusion costs precious marks in exams.
Another frequent error is forgetting to convert percentage back to the required form. Always check if the answer needs to be in percentage, decimal, or fraction format.