8.1.5 Converting

Activity: Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages

[ Want to get more comfortable with converting among fractions, decimals, and percentages? Play this game! ] (a) In your math notebook, turn each of the given percentages into a decimal as well as into a fraction in lowest terms.

• (i) 10%
• (ii) 25%
• (iii) 50%
• (iv) 125%
• (v) 0.5%

Comment

To turn a percentage into a decimal, how far and in which direction should you move the decimal? To turn the percentage into a fraction, which number do you divide by? Don’t forget to reduce the fraction if possible.

Answer

(a)

• (i) Decimal: Fraction:
• (ii) Decimal: Fraction:
• (iii) Decimal: Fraction:
• (iv) Decimal: Fraction:
• (v) Decimal: Fraction:

(b) Write each of the following given numbers as percentages.

• (i)
• (ii)
• (iii)
• (iv) 0.4
• (v) 0.0075
• (vi) 1.2

Comment

There are several different ways of doing this. Do you like to go through a decimal? Do you prefer to multiply by 100%? (This last approach will be shown in the solutions.)

Answer

(b) Multiplying each fraction or decimal by 100% gives the following answers:

• (i)
• (ii)
• (iii)
• (iv)
• (v)
• (vi)

By no means did you have to do it this way, but don’t forget that your answer must include a percent symbol.

8.1.4 The Importance of the Percent Sign

8.1.6 Calculator Exploration: Percentage Conversions