The Unitary Method

The unitary method finds one unit first, then any amount you need. In NSW Year 8 maths (NESA outcome MA4‑FRC‑C‑01) it finds a whole from a known percentage: if 8% of an amount is $56, then 1% is $7 and the whole is $700.

You will find an original price from a sale price, last year’s pay from this year’s after a rise, a car’s price before a loss and the amount invested from one year’s interest. The same idea works with fractions (\(\frac{3}{8}\) of a tank is 27 L) and with rates, such as the charging time left on a phone. You will also compare it with dividing by a multiplier and handle two discounts in a row. It is part of Year 8 Fractions and Percentages.