Percentage be found by multiplying first, so in this example the 50 would be multiplied by 100 to give 5,000, and this result would be divided by 1250 to give 4%. To calculate a percentage of a percentage, convert both percentages to fractions of 100, or to decimals, and multiply them. For example, 50% of 40% is: It is not correct to divide by 100 and use the percent sign at the same time. (E.g. , not , which actually is . A term such as would also be incorrect, this would be read as 1 percent even if the intent
Percentage on goods sold at auction known as "centesima rerum venalium". Computation with these fractions was equivalent to computing percentages. As denominations of money grew in the Middle Ages, computations with a denominator of 100 became more standard and from the late 15th century to the early 16th century it became common for arithmetic texts to include such computations. Many of these texts applied these methods to profit and loss, interest rates, and the Rule of Three. By the 17th century it was standard to quote interest rates in hundredths. The term "per cent" is derived from the Latin "per centum",