Percentage Calculator

Percentages (literally "per 100") are the universal language of comparison. Whether you are analyzing financial growth, checking a battery level, or calculating a tip, you are using percentages. Mastering them is essential for financial literacy and avoiding common statistical traps.

Everyday Scenarios

• Smart Shopping: Discounts are always in percentages. If a $50 shirt is "30% off", you aren't paying $20; you are paying 70% of the price ($35). Being able to do this mental math quickly helps you spot real bargains vs. fake sales.
• Tipping: In the US, tipping 15-20% is standard. For a $60 dinner, 10% is $6 (easy simply move the decimal), so 20% is double that ($12).
• Tax Rates: Sales tax adds a percentage on top of your purchase. A 8% tax on a $1000 item is a significant $80 addition.

The "Percentage Point" Trap

One of the most common errors in news and finance is confusing "percent" with "percentage points".

Example: If a tax rate increases from 10% to 15%:
It did NOT increase by 5% (relative change).
It increased by 5 percentage points (absolute change).
The relative increase is actually 50% (since 5 is half of 10). Misunderstanding this difference can make small changes sound huge, or huge changes sound small.