How to Find the Percent from the Part and Total | Step-by-Step Percentages Lesson

Hi, I’m Beth from My Tutoring Bee, and in this post, we’re going to learn how to find the percent when you’re given the part and the total.

Watch the Full Video here:

This is Part 3 of my Percentages Series!

• Part 1: Find the total when given the part and percent
• Part 2: Find the part when given the percent and total
• Part 3 (this post): Find the percent when given the part and total ✅

If you’ve ever wondered things like:

• How do I find what percent one number is of another?
• What’s the best way to set up a proportion for a percent problem?
• What does “is” and “of” mean in a percent question?

Then this is the guide for you!

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🟨 Step 1: Understanding Percent Proportions

To find a percent, we can use a proportion made up of two fractions:

The key words in a problem help you identify which number is which:

• The number next to “is” → that’s the part (numerator)
• The number next to “of” → that’s the total (denominator)

This structure helps you easily find the missing value — in this case, the percent.

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🟩 Step 2: Example 1 – Basic Percent Problem

Question: What percentage is 22.68 of 54?

Let’s set it up using our proportion:

Here, we’re solving for x, which represents the unknown percent.

Cross Multiply & Divide to Solve:

When we multiply by 100, we can simply move the decimal two places to the right.

✅ Final Answer: 22.68 is 42% of 54.

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🟦 Step 3: Example 2 – Word Problem: Finding the Interest Rate

Problem:
Jax borrowed $786 from the bank. When she pays it back, she owes an extra $55.02 in interest. What percentage is Jax’s interest rate?

We’ll assume this is simple interest — no fancy formulas, just part over total!

Set up the proportion:​

Cross Multiply & Divide:

✅ Answer: Jax’s interest rate is 7%.

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Check Out the Full Percent Series!

If you found this post helpful, you’ll love the rest of my Pre-Algebra Percentages Series:

1. Finding the Total from Part and Percent
2. Finding the Part from Percent and Total
3. Finding the Percent from Part and Total (this lesson!)

These videos and posts will help you understand how percent, part, and total all connect so you can solve any percentage problem confidently.

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🐝 Final Thoughts

Finding the percent from the part and total doesn’t have to be tricky.
Just remember:

1. Use your is/of clues to identify the numbers.
2. Set up the proportion correctly.
3. Cross multiply and divide to solve for the missing value.

And that’s it! You’ve just learned how to find the percent like a pro.

💛 If you’re a visual learner, check out my Pre-Algebra Series on YouTube for a step-by-step walkthrough and more examples.