Convert Percentages to Fractions and Decimals

In this activity, we will be converting from percentages into decimals and fractions.

 

The symbol % stands for percent, which means out of a hundred.

 

Cent is the French for hundred and the % symbol looks a bit like two zeros with a 1 through them... 0|0.

 

We can easily convert between percentages, fractions, and decimals as shown in the example below.

 

45% (45 percent)  is equal to 45/100 (45 hundredths)  =  0.45

78% (78 percent)  is equal to 78/100 (78 hundredths)  =  0.78

5% (5 percent)  is equal to 5/100 (5 hundredths)  =  0.05

40% (40 percent)  is equal to 40/100 (40 hundredths)  =  0.40 = 0.4

 

Remember that:

50% (50 percent) is equal to 50/100 (50 hundredths) = 0.5 or one half.

100% (100 percent) is equal to 100/100 or one whole.

 

Let's try a question together!

 

Example

How can we write 13% as a decimal and a fraction?

 

Answer

13% means 13 out of 100 or 13 hundredths.

 

As a decimal, this is 0.13.

As a fraction, this is 13/100.

 

When converting a percentage into a decimal or a fraction, divide by 100.

 

Are you ready to try some questions now?