Exploring percentages of one’s life.

For my first post, I would like to explore percentages, specifically the percentage of a specific period of time in relation to the total amount of time the person is alive. Let me give you an example:

I have been with my girlfriend since March 12, 2005. As of today (12/11/07), that equals 1005 days.

I was born on September 23rd, 1980. As of today, that equals 9941 days.

We need to come up with an equation that allows us to calculate the percentage of days that I have been with my girlfriend out of the total number of days that I have been alive.

The standard equation for finding a percentage is simple:

Part P

——— = ——— (with P equaling the percentage we are looking for.)

Whole 100

Part would equal 1005 days, because it represents a part of my life of which I am looking for the percentage.

Whole would equal 9941 days, because it represents my whole life, so far.

It would look like this:

1005 P

——— = ———

9941 100

If we solve by cross multiplying,

1005 * 100 = 9941 * P

Then simplify,

100500 = 9941 * P

Divide both sides by 9941 to get the variable by itself on one side of the equation:

10.109 = P

I have been with her for exactly 10.109% of my life, (and let me say that is has been an amazing 10.109%!)

You can use this formula to find this type of percentage for just about anything: Percentage of days spent in school, percentage of days spent in your curent job, percentage of days spent in your current house…the possibilities are endless.

For some help figuring out the number of days (in your life, in your relationship, etc) check out this page:

http://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html

Tomorrow we will attempt to find the exact day (in the future) I will hit the 20% and 50% mark.

CD