The formulas, in one place
| Question | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| What is X% of Y? | (X ÷ 100) × Y | 13% of 5,000 = 650 (Nepal VAT) |
| X is what % of Y? | (X ÷ Y) × 100 | 45 of 60 marks = 75% |
| Change from A to B | ((B − A) ÷ A) × 100 | 80 → 92 = 15% increase |
| Y increased by X% | Y × (1 + X ÷ 100) | 25,000 salary + 8% = 27,000 |
| X is P% of what? | (X ÷ P) × 100 | 850 is 85% of 1,000 |
| Difference of A and B | |A − B| ÷ avg(A, B) × 100 | 60 vs 80 = 28.57% |
Everyday uses
Discounts in the bazaar (what’s 25% off Rs 3,600?), Nepal’s 13% VAT on a quotation, exam marks to percentage, salary increments, NEPSE gains and losses, tips and commissions — they are all one of these six calculations. For chained specific cases we have dedicated tools: VAT Calculator, CGPA Calculator and the NEPSE Share Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a percentage of a number?
Multiply the number by the percentage and divide by 100: X% of Y = (X ÷ 100) × Y. Example: 13% VAT on Rs 5,000 is (13 ÷ 100) × 5,000 = Rs 650.
How do I work out what percent one number is of another?
Divide the part by the whole and multiply by 100: (X ÷ Y) × 100. Example: scoring 45 out of 60 is (45 ÷ 60) × 100 = 75%.
What's the difference between percentage change and percentage difference?
Percentage change has a direction — it measures growth or fall from an old value to a new one, relative to the old value. Percentage difference compares two values without direction, relative to their average. Use change for prices over time, difference for comparing two options.
How do I reverse a percentage (find the original price)?
Use 'X is P% of what number': divide by the percentage and multiply by 100. Example: if Rs 850 is 85% of the original price (after a 15% discount), the original was (850 ÷ 85) × 100 = Rs 1,000.
Why does adding 10% then subtracting 10% not return the original number?
Because the second 10% is taken from a bigger base. Rs 1,000 + 10% = 1,100, then 1,100 − 10% = 990. Percentages are always relative to their current base — a common trap in discounts and salary calculations.