Year 6 - Maths
Use knowledge of calculating common percentages of a number to solve problems in a range of contexts
Understanding percentages
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will explain what percent means and how to represent a percentage in different ways. They will learn how to convert percentages to decimals and fractions and solve conversion problems.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use common percentages of a number to solve problems.
Key Notes
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division can be used to calculate a new percentage from known percentages.
- For example, if I know 10% of a number, I can halve it to find 5%
- If I know 10% and 5% of a number, I can add them to find 15%
Vocabulary To Learn
- Efficient: Efficient means working in an organised way without wasting time or effort.
- Percentage: A percentage is a proportion of a whole.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may find calculating 75% of a number difficult.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Solve this in steps: explain the method from this lesson and why each step matters.
Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division can be used to calculate a new percentage from known percentages. For example, if I know 10% of a number, I can halve it to find 5%.
2. Use this key word in a maths sentence and explain it clearly. 'Efficient'
Efficient means working in an organised way without wasting time or effort. Use this word when showing your method, then check your final answer is reasonable.
3. Spot and fix this common maths mistake.
Mistake: Pupils may find calculating 75% of a number difficult. Correction: First focus on teaching one strategy for finding 75% of a number. Pupils may find it easiest to add 50% and 25% together. Show representations of this (e.g. bar models showing the proportion of the whole) alongside calculations.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Explain how to convert a percentage to a fraction without a denominator of 100 Study Guide
- Explain how to convert percentages to decimals and fractions with a denominator of 100 Study Guide
- Explain how to solve problems where the percentage part and size is known but the whole is unknown Study Guide
- Explain what percent means and represent a percentage in different ways Study Guide
- Solve problems involving percentages in a range of contexts Study Guide
- Solve problems where the known percentage part and size represents a change to the whole Study Guide
- Use knowledge of calculating 50%, 10% and 1% of a number to solve problems in a range of contexts Study Guide
- Use knowledge of calculating any percentage of a number to solve problems in a range of contexts Study Guide
- Use knowledge of fraction-decimal-percentage conversions to solve problems in a range of contexts Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 6 Maths guide library.