Use the part-to-whole ratio as a cross-check
18:40 simplifies to 9:20. Reading that reduced ratio as a decimal and multiplying by 100 gives the same percentage, which is a useful check on the direct formula.
- 1.Form the ratio 18 ÷ 40.
- 2.18 ÷ 40 = 0.45.
- 3.0.45 × 100 = 45%.