A decimal is a number written according to its place value. The decimal point is used to separate numbers from number values less than one (e.g. 0.5). A percent is a specified number within or for every hundred (e.g. 50%). A fraction is a numerical quantity that is not a whole number (e.g. ½ ). Fractions, decimals, and percentages are all ways of depicting a part to a whole number relationship.
As a consumer we interact with decimals, percents, and fractions on a daily basis. Take a moment and look at this example. Bargain World is having a one day sale. Everything in the store is 50% off. There is a shirt you want to buy that costs $50.00. What is the cost of shirt with the 50% discount? In order to find the new price, you would take ½ of $50.00. The new price for the shirt is $25.00.
Well, that is interesting; how did I do that? In this lesson we will learn how to use a fraction, decimal, and percent chart. We will also learn how to convert among the three. Here is an example of a conversion chart.
| Fraction | Decimal | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 0.50 | 50% |
| 1/3 | 0.33 | 33% |
| 2/3 | 0.66 | 66% |
| 1/4 | 0.25 | 25% |
| 3/4 | 0.75 | 75% |
Take a moment and look at the fraction ½.
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In the fraction ½, the 1 represents the numerator, which is the number of parts you have. The 2 in the fraction ½ represents the denominator, which is the total parts of the whole. In order to convert a fraction to a decimal, you must do the following:
1. Divide the numerator by the denominator. 1 divided by 2 equals to 0.50.
2. Visually you can draw a whole and divide it into two parts. See that ½ or 0.50 of the whole is shaded in the example below.
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In order to convert a fraction to a percent, you must do the following:
1. Convert the fraction to a decimal.
2. Multiply by 100, or move the decimal point two places to the right.
3. Add the percent symbol.
In our example we know that the fraction ½ converts to 0.50. Now I can convert 0.50 to 50% by moving the decimal two places to the right and adding the percent (%) symbol.
We see decimals daily. Some examples might include money ($2.35), measurement (2.5 gallons), or sports statistics (7.01 minutes). The place value of decimals helps us to read and understand numbers better. Numbers to left of the decimal represent ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, hundred thousands, millions, billions, and so on. Numbers to the right of the decimal represent tenths, hundredths, and thousandths.
 |
Take a moment and look at this decimal 0.75. The 7 is in the tenths place and the 5 is in the hundredths place. If adding the two decimals, my equation would look like this: 0.70 + 0.05 = 0.75. The whole number seventy-five means 75 wholes. The decimal seventy-five hundredths indicates 75 parts out of 100 equal parts (e.g. $0.75 out of $1.00).
In order to convert a decimal to a percent, you must multiply the decimal by 100, or move the decimal two places to the right. 0.75 becomes 75%.
In order to convert a decimal to a fraction you must do the following:
1. Remove the decimal point.
2. Rewrite the decimal as a fraction. The name of the decimal tells us how to convert the decimal to the fraction: 0.75 (seventy-five hundredths) = 75/100.
3. Simplify your fraction if needed by finding the greatest common factor (GCF) for both the numerator and denominator.
Based on the conversion rules, we know that 0.75 is equal to 75/100. Therefore, 75/100 is my fraction. I could simplify the fraction, or make it easier to understand, by dividing the numerator and denominator by the greatest common factor, which is 25. 75/100 is the equivalent fraction, or same, as ¾.
Just like fractions and decimals, you have probably seen percentages. Some examples are items on sales (60% off), test scores (85% mastery), or stock markets (+5.6 %). Sometimes with percentages your numbers may not be whole numbers. For example, how would you convert 65.5% to a decimal? In order to convert a percentage to a decimal, you must do the following:
1. Drop the (%) symbol.
2. Divide by 100, or move the decimal point two places to the left.
65.5% as a decimal is 0.655. This decimal reads as six hundred fifty-five thousandths. This is very interesting! How would I convert 65.5% to a fraction? In order to convert a percentage to a fraction you must do the following.
1. Put the percentage over 100 (% = numerator / 100 = denominator).
2. Simplify your answer.
In this lesson, we have learned that fractions, decimals, and percentages are all ways of depicting a part to a whole number relationship. We have also learned what these terms mean. A fraction is a numerical quantity that is not a whole number. A decimal is a number written according to its place value and is used to separate numbers from number values less than one. A percent is a specified number within or for every hundred. In particular, we learned to convert fractions, decimals, and percents. The skills learned in this lesson are a great support when using a fraction, decimal, and percent chart.
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Saxon Math 7/6 Homeschool: Online Textbook Help30 chapters | 148 lessons
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