I need help creating a formula in Google Sheets to work backwards from a percentage. Let me explain what I mean. If I have a value that represents a certain percent of some larger number, how can I find that larger number using a formula?
For example, let’s say I know that 450 equals 30% of some unknown total. I want to figure out what that total is. I can do this math by hand but I’m not sure how to write it as a cell formula in my spreadsheet.
Can someone show me the right way to set this up? I have the partial amount in one cell and the percentage in another cell, and I want the third cell to automatically calculate the complete total.
To find the original total from a percentage in Google Sheets, you can use a simple formula. When you know that 450 represents 30% of an unknown total, the correct approach is to divide the known value by the decimal form of the percentage. Assuming your known value is in cell A1 and the percentage is in B1, your formula should look like this: =A1/(B1/100). This means you would calculate 450 ÷ (30 ÷ 100) to arrive at 1500. This method is efficient for various calculations involving percentages.
The formula’s simple once you get it. Divide your known value by the percentage as a decimal. If your partial amount is in A1 and percentage in B1, use =A1/(B1/100). With your 450 being 30% example, that’s =450/(30/100) = 1500. I use this all the time for commission calculations and figuring out original prices before discounts. Just make sure your percentage cell has the actual number like 30, not 0.30, or you’ll need to tweak the formula.
you could also simplify it by multiplying by 100 then dividing by the percentage. for your example, do =450*100/30, and it’ll give you 1500. i personally find this method easier to recall than converting to decimals, but both methods work just fine.