Write down the percentage and the number on a piece of paper. Let's assume that you want to subtract 5 percent from 50.
Convert the percentage value to its number equivalent. Using the same example, divide 5 by 100 and multiply the answer by 50, so you get 2.5. Hence, 5 percent of 50 is 2.5.
Subtract 2.5 from 50. The answer is 47.5.