Explain the difference between a percent and a benchmark percent.

The most common benchmark percents are 0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. These benchmark values are sometimes used when estimating a solution involving percentages. Real-World Example. If an item costs $36.00 and there is a 7% sales tax, the benchmark of 10% can be used to mentally estimate the sales tax of the item.

Percentage difference equals the absolute value of the change in value, divided by the average of the 2 numbers, all multiplied by 100. We then append the percent sign, %, to designate the % difference.