Find 1% of a Number

Goal and meaning

Today you will learn how to find one percent of any number.

In this model, every cell is part of the same whole. The 100 equal cells let us interpret the word percent, which means out of 100.

We begin with the whole and its equal shares so that 1% will have a clear meaning before we use arithmetic.

Partition the whole

The whole amount is 300. The grid partitions that whole into 100 equal shares.

Equal shares matter because each cell must represent the same fraction of 300. Ten cells form one row, and all ten rows together form the whole.

10 rows × 10 cells in each row = 100 equal cells.

Select exactly one share

Now exactly one cell is highlighted. It is one share out of the 100 equal shares.

This tells us what to take: one hundredth of 300. We have not assumed the value of that cell; we will calculate it next.

Turn the model into an operation

The whole 300 is split equally among 100 cells. To find the value of one cell, divide the whole by the number of equal shares.

Therefore, one highlighted cell is worth 3, so 1% of 300 is 3.

Divide by 10 twice

Dividing by 100 is equivalent to dividing by 10 and then dividing by 10 again. This helps us track how each digit’s place value changes.

First, 300 ÷ 10 = 30. Then, 30 ÷ 10 = 3. Each division makes every digit worth one tenth as much.

Transfer the reasoning to decimals

The same two divisions by 10 work for decimals. Keeping each equation separate makes the place-value change clear.

Check whether the result makes sense

For a positive whole, 1% is only one of 100 equal shares. It must be smaller than the whole.

3 < 300

The size check can catch unreasonable answers, while the inverse check confirms the exact value.

Prepare your strategy

1. Identify the whole. This tells you which amount is being partitioned.
2. Divide by 100. This finds one of the 100 equal shares.
3. Retain the units. A share of a distance is still a distance; a share of dollars is still measured in dollars.
4. Check. The result should be smaller than a positive whole, and multiplying it by 100 should recover the whole.

Use this strategy on the real practice question next.

Practice

Find 1% of 245.

Identify 245 as the whole, then use the meaning of 1% to choose your operation.

From question 1175568

Recap

• 1% means one out of 100 equal shares.
• To find 1%, divide the whole by 100.
• Dividing by 100 can be shown as two divisions by 10.

You achieved the goal: you can find one percent of a number.