Math · Stage 5
Find 10%, 25% and 50% mentally using fraction shortcuts
Turn a percentage into its secret fraction — 50% = ½, 25% = ¼, 10% = 1/10 — then just halve, quarter or tenth the amount in your head. The China-fast way to a price or a share.
✦ Math📘 Stage 5 · S5⏱ ~11 min🧒 Ages 9–10★ Free to start
I can find 10%, 25% and 50% mentally using fraction shortcuts: 50% = 1/2, 25% = 1/4, 10% = 1/10.
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Kavi's Half-Price Trick 🏷️
At the toy shop Kavi spots a big “50% OFF!” sign. "Easy!" hoots Kavi. "50% is just one half, 25% is one quarter, and 10% is one tenth — so I can work out the new price in my head ✨."
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What your child will learn
150% is one halfA percent means “out of 100”. The whole thing is always 100%. Split the whole bar into 2 equal parts and shade 1 — that one part is 50%, which is exactly one half (½). So to find 50% of an amount, just halve it — divide by 2.
225% is one quarterNow cut the whole pizza into 4 equal slices and shade 1. That slice is 25% — exactly one quarter (¼). To find 25% of an amount, split it into 4 equal parts: divide by 4.
310% is one tenthSplit the whole bar into 10 equal strips and shade 1. That strip is 10% — exactly one tenth (1/10). To find 10% of an amount, share it into 10 equal parts: divide by 10.
4Three slices of the same amountWatch all three shortcuts work on the same amount, 80. Halve it for 50%, quarter it for 25%, and tenth it for 10%. The bigger the fraction, the bigger the slice — so 50% towers over 10%.
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A peek inside
Find 50% of 60.
50% = 1/2, so 60 ÷ 2
Try this at home: Find 50%: 50% of 20 = __ · 50% of 40 = __ · 50% of 100 = __
Ready to play and learn?
Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.
Part of Math · Stage 5 · S5 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.