Percent literally means "out of 100."

If a student gets 75 percent on a test or quiz, this is the equivalent of receiving 75 questions correct out of 100.

Definition: A ratio is the comparison of two measurements by division (or by a fraction bar).

A proportion is two equivalent ratios, which are written as fractions.

Example: If Betsy gets 3 problems correct out of 4, what percent did she correct?

3 = P (P represents the percent correct)
4=100


Cross multiplication will set up an equation to solve for the answer:

Example: If 150 people are surveyed and 90 people say that Bill Clinton should be able to remain president even though he may have lied under oath, what percent of the population are Clinton supporters?

 writer:Kevin Gallagher