Percentages are mathematical data that are used on a day-to-day basis. You may not have realized it, but to find out how much you are being charged in taxes, or to find out the real price of a certain item, we use calculations with percentages.
People dedicated to the company or who work with a lot of statistical or accounting data base their calculations and their results on percentages, in this way changes can be expressed and the results can be compared with each other over time.
Also performing operations with percentages are some of the basic operations that we must learn within the minimum and compulsory studies. If you want to know how to subtract a percentage correctly in various situations and with different methods, then pay attention to the following article on doncomos.com where we are going to explain all the steps you must follow to subtract a percentage.
The percentage indicates a certain quantity out of 100. It is always expressed with a number and the percent symbol “%”. For example: 50%.
Subtract a percentage from an amount
In this case in which we want to discount a certain percentage to an amount, we can use two different ways to obtain results.
Method 1: transformation of the percentage to decimals
First of all we must transform the given percentage into a decimal number. To do this we must take the whole number of the percentage and divide it by 100.
Next we will take the quantity from which we want to subtract the percentage and multiply it by the decimal number obtained previously.
Finally, we must put first the total amount to which we want to discount the percentage and subtract the amount obtained in the previous step. In this way we will obtain the final amount after having subtracted a certain percentage from an amount.
Let’s see an example below.
We want to buy a sweater that costs €30 and is on a 20% discount, but the final price is not indicated on the label. What will it be?
Amount from which we want to subtract the percentage: €30
The equivalent percentage in decimals: 20% = 20/100=0.20
We must multiply the two previous quantities: 30*0.20= 6
Finally we are going to subtract the initial amount from which we want to discount the percentage (€30) from the previous data (6): 30-6= €24
€24 will be the final price of the jersey after subtracting the 20% discount.
Method 2: Direct calculation by formula.
In this case, let ‘s see how to calculate the subtraction of a percentage following a formula without having to convert the percentage to decimals first.
First we must know the amount equivalent to the percentage that we must subtract from the main amount.
To do this we will do a basic calculation of the percentage of a quantity, that is, the number in front of the percentage will be multiplied by the quantity from which we must subtract the percentage and the result will be divided by 100.
Next, from the initial amount to which we want to subtract the percentage, we will subtract the amount obtained in the previous step.
Let’s do the development following the previous example. The initial price of the jersey is €30 and we want to know the final price of this after subtracting 20%.
We will calculate the percentage of a quantity: 20/100 * 30 = (20*30)/100= 6
Finally, we will subtract the amount corresponding to 20% from the initial price of the jersey: 30 – 6=€24
€24 will be the final price of the jersey after making the subtraction.
Method 3: subtracting percentages
Another way to perform this calculation is to subtract the percentages before obtaining the result of the subtraction to the main amount.
To do this, we must take into account that the amount from which we want to subtract the percentage is the equivalent of 100%.
So, we must perform a subtraction of percentages. We will subtract 100% minus the percentage that we must subtract from the amount indicated. In this case we will obtain a new percentage, which already indicates the percentage equivalent to the quantity minus the discounted percentage. But to obtain the quantity, and not the percentage, we must calculate a percentage of a quantity.
We will multiply the new percentage by the amount we want to discount the percentage from. Thus we will obtain the final amount that we want to know.
Continuing with the previous example of the €30 sweater that is on sale and we want to know its final price, let’s put this last method into practice.
We know that the initial price is €30, so it will be 100%
The percentage to be discounted is 20%.
First we must do the subtraction of percentages (we just have to subtract the numbers in front of the percentages and then put the percentage symbol on it): for this we will subtract 100% – 20% =80%
This 80% is the equivalent part of the final price that we are going to end up paying for the jersey. To know the amount instead of the percentage then we must calculate a percentage of an amount.
80% of 30 = 80/100 * 30= (80*30)/100= 24
Therefore, the final amount to pay for the jersey is €24.
Subtract a percentage from various data
In the event that you have several quantities from which you want to subtract the same percentage, you can calculate the final result of the subtraction of the percentage individually, or, in cases in which the final result that interests you is a sum of all the quantities above, you can do it in a simpler way. Adding all the quantities from which you must subtract the percentage, and then make the final calculation following one of the previous methods, taking the result of the sum of quantities as a reference.
For example, let’s say you want to buy several items of clothing and all of them have a 20% discount. The items to buy are:
Pants: €40
Jumper: €25
Bag: €20
Belt: €10
To obtain the final price to pay, as the discount is the same for all the garments, we will first proceed to add all the prices.
Total to pay before discount: 40+25+20+10= 95
Now we will calculate the amount equivalent to 20% of €95 following one of the previous methods: (20*95) / 100 = 19
€19 is what they discount from the total to pay for all the garments. To know the final cost of the purchase applying the discount, we will subtract the total amount to be paid before the discount minus the discount.
95-19= 76
The final cost of the purchase after having applied the discount is €76.
Subtract a percentage in Excel
Excel spreadsheets are really a good way to keep accounts and data, it also allows us to do calculations quickly and easily and is capable of handling a large amount of data in those calculations.
Let us now see how we can subtract a percentage in Excel.
First of all we must know that in Excel you work by putting each data in a different cell to be able to work with them mathematically.
Therefore, in a cell, let’s say cell A1 will contain the amount from which we want to subtract a percentage. In another cell, for example B1, we will put the percentage expressed with the number followed by the % symbol.
In another cell we will put the following formula: “=A1 – (A1*B1)”. When we want to write the cells, we can write directly, but most often, after having put the = symbol, click on the cell that should go, add the symbols and click on the rest of the cells each time that corresponds. Do not forget to put the parentheses so that the result is certain.
The program will calculate your formula giving you the final amount.
For example, let’s say that we put in cell A1 the amount of 30, which is the cost of the sweater, in cell B1 we will put “20%”. In cell B2, for example, we will do the calculations. In this cell we must indicate: =A1 – (A1-B1) and press “Enter”. Then we will obtain the result of 24. Which is the final price that we will pay for the jersey as we have already commented.
Another option is that you do not click on cell A1, and instead put the amount “30”, but you would not be taking full advantage of a spreadsheet.
In the event that we want to subtract a percentage from a sum of numbers (articles, prices, etc.) then we must first write all the data in the same column or in the same row, then in another cell, we will make the formula “SUM” ( =SUM(A1:A5)) that is, we will write the “=” symbol, write “SUM” all in capital letters and open parentheses then we will click on the first data cell and keeping the mouse pressed we will drag through the entire row or column of data, in this way the program understands that we want to add all that data. Once we get to the end, let go of the mouse, close the parenthesis, and hit enter.
With the sum data we can subtract the percentage as we explained previously, taking the sum cell as a reference.
We hope that with all these methods on how to subtract a percentage the process has become very clear to you and that you practice your calculations, either with the help of tools or with your mind.