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Chained Percentages on Numbers

Apply multiple percentages sequentially to a base number.

When to use

Problems like '20% of 60% of 5,000,000'.

Steps

  1. 1.Start from the rightmost percentage and the base
  2. 2.Calculate the inner percentage of the base first
  3. 3.Then apply the outer percentage to that result

Example: 20% of 60% of 5,000,000

60% of 5,000,000 = 3,000,000

20% of 3,000,000 = 600,000

Mental approach

Work right to left: 60% of 5M = 3M, then 20% of 3M = 600K.

Pen & paper approach

Write each intermediate result before moving to the next step.

Tips

  • •Alternative: multiply the percentages first (20% x 60% = 12%), then apply to base
  • •12% of 5,000,000 = 600,000 — same answer, sometimes easier
  • •Choose whichever order produces simpler intermediate numbers

Try it yourself

50% of 40% of 1,000,000

25% of 80% of 200,000

10% of 30% of 5,000,000