16/40 = 40%
A value like 40% might show up in a sale, such as a jacket marked 40% off, or in a survey where 40 out of every 100 people chose the same answer. It can also describe progress, like finishing 40% of a book or project.
A quick way to picture 40% is to imagine 10 equal parts and shade 4 of them. It’s a little less than half, so you can estimate it as close to—but below—50%.
One common mix-up is confusing 40% off with paying 40% of the original price. If something is discounted by 40%, you pay the remaining 60%, not 40%.
