Percentages learning path

Common Percentages: 25%, 50%, and 75%

Many familiar percentages are fractions in disguise: 50% is a half, 25% is a quarter, and 75% is three quarters. Use the matching fraction to calculate quickly.

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The strategy

How it works

  1. Match the percentage to a fraction: 50% = 1/2, 25% = 1/4, 75% = 3/4.

  2. Divide the amount by the fraction denominator.

  3. For 75%, take three of the quarter-sized parts.

See it in action

Worked examples

Example 125% of 80
  1. 25% is one quarter.
  2. 80 ÷ 4 = 20.
  3. So 25% of 80 is 20.

Answer: 20

Example 275% of 40
  1. 25% of 40 is 10.
  2. 75% is three lots of 25%.
  3. 3 × 10 = 30.

Answer: 30

A quick heads-up

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Dividing by 25 instead of by 4 to find 25%; one quarter is the amount divided into four equal parts.
  • Finding 25% for 75% and stopping; take three quarters, not one.

Your turn

Check your understanding

Choose an answer to see instant feedback and a short explanation. You can take the quiz again any time.

Question 1 of 3

What is 50% of 46?

Keep the momentum

Try a few practice problems

Choose a comfortable range and work through a short round with the free mental math trainer.

Practice percentages