Find the Whole From a Percent

Are your students starting to learn how to solve different types of percentage problems? They may have been working on identifying percentages when given a 10×10 grid, or they may have been calculating how to find the percentage of a given number. Another type of calculation they will likely learn is determining the whole number when given a percentage and a part of the whole.

Teach Starter has created a set of task cards you can use with your students during your percentages unit. With this set of 24 task cards, students will practice:

• Standard practice problems such as 9 is 25% of _______
• Use tape diagrams (strip diagrams) to calculate the whole
• Word problems

Through this activity, students will show they can solve problems involving finding the whole when given a part and the percent.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your math lessons.

In addition to individual student work time, use this set of task cards to enhance learning through guided math groups, whole class lessons, or remote learning assignments. 

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

For students who need additional support, guide them on the steps to solve equations with a laminated proportion template. Students can use this template to set up equivalent fractions to solve each problem. Additionally, provide students with a multiplication chart to help them with basic facts.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

If there are students who need a bit of a challenge, have them create their own word problems where they would need to find the whole when given a percentage and part.

🛴 Scoot Activity 

Place the cards around the room in numerical order and give each student a recording sheet. Assign students or pairs to a starting point card. Give students time to review the card and record their answer in the corresponding space on their paper. Students will rotate to the next card when you say, “SCOOT!” Continue in this manner until students return to their starting point. 

👋 Exit Ticket 

Use these cards as a formative assessment after your lesson. Pick a random assortment of cards and project them on the board for the whole class to see. Students can record their answers on a sheet of paper, sticky note, or their notebook. 

Plan lessons for all ability levels with our 10 Best Scaffolding Strategies! 

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the color PDF, black and white PDF, or editable Google Slides version of this resource. A recording sheet and answer key are also included with this download.

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

To keep the task cards out of pockets or under desks, punch a hole in the corner of each to place them on a binder ring. 

Sustainability Tip: Print a few recording sheets on cardstock and slip them into dry-erase sleeves. Students can record their answers with a whiteboard marker, then erase and reuse them.  

This resource was created by Cassandra Friesen, a teacher in Colorado and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities and resources that cut down on lesson planning time:  

teaching resource

Finding the Whole From a Percent - Match-Up

Strengthen student understanding of how to find the whole from a percent with this match-up activity.

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Finding the Whole From a Percent – I Have, Who Has? Card Game

Practice how to find the whole from a percent with an I Have, Who Has? card game.

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Find the Whole From a Percent – Worksheet

Practice how to find the whole from a percent with this standard-practice worksheet.