Explanation

In this example, the goal is to convert the percentages shown in column C to amounts, where the total of all amounts is given as $1945. In other words, if we know Rent is 36.0%, and the total of all expenses is $1945, we want to calculate that Rent is $700. With “x” as the number we want to find, we have:

=36.0%*1945=x
=0.36*1945
=700.20

Note: in the example, the percentage values in column C are unrounded decimal numbers like 0.359897172, which accounts for the 0.20 difference in the calculation above.

The total of all expenses is in cell D15, which is also the named range “total”. To perform this calculation in Excel, we simply multiply the percentage in column C by the total in cell D15. The formula in D6, copied down is:

=C6*total

Named ranges behave like absolute references by default, so the equivalent formula without a named range is:

=C6*$D$15

For each expense in the table, Excel returns a calculated amount.

Formatting percentages in Excel

In mathematics, a percentage is a number expressed as a fraction of 100. For example, 85% is read as “Eighty-five percent” and is equivalent to 85/100 or 0.85. Accordingly, the values in column C are decimal numbers. For example, C6 is approximately 0.36, C7 is approximately 0.18, etc. To display these numbers as a percentage with the percent sign (%), the Percentage number format has been applied to C6:C13.

Explanation

In this example, the goal is to calculate the “original” value when the current value and percentage change are known. For example, if we know the current value is 1100, after an increase of 10%, we want to calculate the original value (1000) with an Excel formula. Although the language may vary, this kind of formula can be used in different ways:

  • To calculate an original value based on a known percentage change.
  • To calculate an original amount after a specific markup has been applied.
  • To calculate a pre-tax value after a specific tax rate has already been applied.

General formula

Assuming a current value of 1100 and a after a known increase of 10%, the general formula for this calculation, where “x” is the original number, is:

x=current/(percentage+1)
x=1100/(10%+1)
x=1100/1.10
x=1000

Excel formula

Converting this to an Excel formula with cell references, the formula in E5 becomes:

=D5/(C5+1)
=1100/(0.1+1)
=1100/1.1
=1000

As the formula is copied down, the formula returns the original price for each item in the table, based on the percentages shown in column C and the current values in column D.

Formatting percentages in Excel

In mathematics, a percentage is a number expressed as a fraction of 100. For example, 65% is read as “Sixty-five percent” and is equivalent to 65/100 or 0.65. Accordingly, the values in column C are decimal values , with the Percentage number format applied.