Context

Percentage is used to express specific parts of a total value, and this part is represented as a fraction of 100. The word 'percentage' already indicates this notion, as it comes from the Latin 'per centum,' which means 'per hundred.' It is a concept used in various situations in our daily lives, in the educational environment, in shopping, in business, in finance, among others.

In everyday situations, percentage is widely used. When we go to a commercial establishment and see signs saying '50% off,' we are facing an example of the use of percentages. Furthermore, when calculating the tip for a waiter at a restaurant, we are dealing with this idea.

In the world of business and finance, percentage is fundamental. When investing money in a bank, it is important to know the annual yield percentage that this investment will bring, that is, the value that will be added to the initial investment. Similarly, when taking out a loan, it is necessary to know the interest rate, which is the percentage that will be added to the initial borrowed amount.

Moreover, percentage is a way to express proportions and comparisons in an intuitive and universally understood manner. For example, it is easier to understand that 70% of a population is vaccinated against a disease than to say that 7 out of 10 people are vaccinated.

Practical Activity: 'The world of discounts: Understanding percentages'

Project Objective

This project aims not only to teach students how to calculate percentages but also to demonstrate its applicability in daily life, more specifically in the context of shopping, discounts, and promotions.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 people and will create a store simulation (physical or online), in which they will have products with defined prices and will offer discounts in various percentages. They will need to calculate the prices of the products with the applied discounts and also determine how much customers would save with these discounts.

Required Materials

• Paper and pencil for calculations and notes
• Catalogs from real retailers or images of products from the internet (for online stores)
• Calculator (optional)

Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. Each group must select or create a list of 10 products for their store, defining a price for each item.
2. For each product, the group must decide on a discount percentage to be applied.
3. Students calculate the new price of each product with the applied discount.
4. Students must then calculate the savings customers would have on each product with the discount.
5. The group should create a catalog or a website (on paper or digitally) displaying the products, their original prices, the discount percentages, the new prices, and the savings customers would make.
6. The final work must be presented to the class, demonstrating the application of percentages in commerce.

Project Deliverables and Connection with Activities

At the end of the project, each group must deliver:

1. The store catalog or website, with all necessary information.
2. A written report that tells the group's experience. This report should have the following sections:
   • Introduction: Describe the project's objective, the concept of percentage, and its importance in daily life, especially in the commercial context.
   • Development: Explain the steps the group followed to execute the project. In addition, the decisions made regarding the products and applied discounts should be detailed. The calculations performed and the results obtained should also be included.
   • Conclusions: Recap the main points of the project, reflect on what they learned from the experience, and comment on the importance of learning about percentages for solving everyday problems.
   • Bibliography: Reference the sources of information consulted during the project.

The written document is an opportunity for students to reflect on the learning process and the practical application of theory. When preparing the report, they should organize their ideas, present arguments and conclusions in a structured manner, and learn to cite sources, an important skill for future academic endeavors.