Using percentages
Term 2 starting in week 3 :: Estimated time: 2 weeks
- Use the equivalence of fractions, decimals and percentages (review)
- Calculate percentage increase and decrease (review)
- Express a change as a percentage (review)
- Solve 'reverse' percentage problems
- Recognise and solve percentage problems (non-calculator)
- Recognise and solve percentage problems (calculator) (review)
For higher-attaining pupils:
- Solve problems with repeated percentage change
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Activities for pupils
Here are some related resources in alphabetical order. Some may only be appropriate for high-attaining learners while others will be useful for those in need of support. Click anywhere in the grey area to access the resource.
Fraction Percentage Match the fraction with the equivalent percentage. A drag and drop self marking exercise.
Fraction Percentage Pairs The traditional pairs or Pelmanism game adapted to test knowledge of simple fractions and their equivalent percentages.
Fractions, Decimals, Percentages An exercise on converting fractions to decimals, decimals to percentages and percentages to fractions.
Percentage Change Video When you have mastered working out percentages you can then apply that skill to calculating percentage increase, decrease and reverse percentages.
Percentage Change Test your understanding of using percentages with this self marking quiz about percentage change.
Fractions Decimals Percentages Video A reminder of the quick methods of converting between fractions, decimals and percentages.
Percentage Switch Practise percentage increase and decrease calculations by completing this table.
Interest Practise using the formulas for simple interest and compound interest.
Interest Video Learn about simple interest, compound interest, appreciation and depreciation. This video is to help you do the online, self-marking exercise.
Compound Interest Calculator A customised online calculator for quickly finding the solutions to compound interest problems.
Overdraft Charges Do you understand how your bank charges you for taking out an overdraft? Try this self marking quiz.
Click on a topic below for suggested lesson Starters, resources and activities from Transum.
- Fractions A fraction is a part of a number. Fractions are either vulgar or decimal. Vulgar fractions can be proper, improper or mixed. Equivalent fractions have the same value. Pupils, at all stages of their learning, should practise using fractions. From dealing with halves, the most basic fraction, to manipulating algebraic fractions containing surds, this topic is always relevant. Proficiency also depends on reasonable numeracy skills particularly the multiplication tables and finding the lowest common multiple of two numbers. Pupils also need to be able to convert vulgar fractions to decimals and percentages and vice versa. Be wary of teaching the 'rules' for manipulation fractions by rote. Pupils need to understand the reason why and the time-honoured key to understanding starts with the imaginary pizza and the much-used fraction wall.
- Money For many pupils the ability to understand financial transactions is a skill they thank their mathematics teacher for. Understanding the use of money is a real, practical application of mathematics in the real world and is just as important today as ever it was. When it comes to managing our money and avoiding costly mistakes it is well worthwhile to strive to become an expert. There are key aspects of personal finance the pupils should understand as the get older and more independent in their lives and the activities provided here provide resources for a small part of their learning process.
- Percentages Percentages provide a useful and common way to express a part of a quantity. The word is derived from the Latin per centum meaning “by the hundred”. Although percentages are usually used to express numbers between zero and one, any ratio can be expressed as a percentage. Pupils begin working with common percentages such as 50%, 25% and 10% and practise estimating percentages to get a better understanding of the concept. They then learn how to convert percentages to decimals and vulgar fractions and vice versa. More advanced problem solving may include percentage change and how it is applied in real life to discounts and interest. A study of the use of percentages in the media can provide many discussion points and can provide a stimulus for classroom display work.
Lesson Starters
Here are some suggestions for whole-class, projectable resources which can be used at the beginnings of each lesson in this block.
1st Lesson
PercenTable
Complete the table by calculating common percentages without using a calculator.
2nd Lesson
Quick Percentages
Simple percentage questions appear on screen then fade every 8 seconds. This Starter is customisable.
3rd Lesson
Fractions Decimals Percentages
Convert fractions to decimals, decimals to percentages and percentages to fractions.
4th Lesson
Noughts and Crosses
In how many different ways can the first X and O by placed on the grid?
5th Lesson
Student Loans
Six students borrow £5000 to help pay for their university course. Calculate how much each student will have to pay back to the lender.
6th Lesson
Render Digitful
Find a calculation for the current year which uses all of the digits 1 to 9.
Some of the Starters above are to reinforce concepts learnt, others are to introduce new ideas while others are on unrelated topics designed for retrieval practice or and opportunity to develop problem-solving skills.
