Sixth Grade · Math · week 5

Finding a percent of a number

Calculate the percent of a number using the decimal-multiplication method and apply it to tax, tips, and discounts.

To find a percent of a number, change the percent to a decimal and multiply. "Find 20% of 60" means 0.20 × 60.

This works for any percent problem - tax, tips, discounts, and sale prices are all "percent of a number" in disguise.

For a discount, find the percent off, then subtract it from the original price. For a tip or tax, find the percent, then usually ADD it to the total.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Keep the method consistent: percent to decimal, then multiply. Say it as a chant if that helps it stick.
  • Use restaurant math - tips are a perfect real-world reason to practice this every week.
  • For discounts, decide together whether the question wants the discount amount or the new sale price (original minus discount).
  • Estimate first with a friendly percent, like 10% or 50%, to sense-check the exact answer.
Talk about it:
  • What are the two steps to find a percent of a number?
  • How is finding a 10% tip a shortcut you can do in your head?
  • What is the difference between "the discount" and "the sale price"?

Mastery looks like: They convert a percent to a decimal and multiply to find the percent of a number, applying it correctly to tips, tax, and discounts.

Common stumbles: Multiplying by the percent number without converting to a decimal first (60 × 30 instead of 60 × 0.30); confusing the discount amount with the final sale price.

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

MultiplicationEqual groups and arrays make products finally click.try →Counting & Ten-FramesCount objects in ten-frames and base-ten blocks, one tap at a time.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Math for this learner.
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