Misconception of Percentage

Maths is interesting!

 

It catches you nicely when you are not aware of its full implication.

 

Many of its techniques and concepts has wide boundaries.

 

Any maths learners has to understand its fundamentals and basic concepts in order to "escape" being caught with wrong usage.

 

Percentage is one area I wish to mention in this post.

 

You may find that percentage or percent is a simple term in maths.

 

Besides being a ratio, it is a comparative element.

 

It tells how big the target is to the original, or how small it is.

 

Misconception of Percentage:

 

The numerator is always smaller than the denominator (which is the total).

 

Is it true?

 

A definite NO!

 

Reason:

If a ratio has its numerator less than the denominator ==>  The numerator is relatively smaller in size than the total.

If the numerator is larger than the denominator ==> The numerator is bigger in size than the total.

An example can illustrate the concept.

Example:
If a costume is now priced at 90% of its original, $100, it means that the price is not only $90.
It is lesser than the original, since the ratio is 90 / 100 or 0.9.

If the costume is newly priced at 120% of its original, $100, it means that the price is now at $120!
A price value more than the original.
It is a practical real-life number.

• Percentage can be more than 100%.
• The numerator can be more than the denominator.

Understanding this concept will serve anyone good. Things in life goes up as well as down. Percentage reflects this sense through its number.

Interesting? You bet.

:)  Happy maths learning.
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