Math Review of Fractions, Decimals, and Percents

Math Review of Fractions, Decimals, and Percents

Math Review of Fractions, Decimals, and Percents 150 150 Deborah

Overview:

Fractions can be converted to corresponding decimals, and both fractions and decimals can also be converted to percents.  As with many equivalent expressions in mathematics, fractions, decimals, and percents can also be converted back into their original forms.

What Are Fractions?

A fraction is a part of the whole so that it is in the form a/b, where a is the numerator and b is the denominator.  A simple fraction has an integer in its numerator and a nonzero integer in its denominator.  Fractions are useful in equations.  Some fractions, such as 3/8, are in simplest terms, while others, such as 6/8, can be simplified to an equivalent fraction ¾ in simplest terms. Fractions can be used to perform all operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

How can Fractions Be Changed to Decimals?

Although fractions are useful, they can be harder to use in operations than integers and decimals.  Fortunately, they are easily changed to decimal form and back again.  One of the meanings of a simple fraction such as ¾ is 3 divided by 4 or 0.75.  Similarly, the fraction 5/8 is equal to 5 divided by 8 or 0.625.  The decimal can easily be changed back into a fraction by remembering that a decimal such as 0.75 means 75/100.  By dividing 75/100 by 25/25 changes it to the equivalent simplest form, or ¾.  The decimal 0.625 can be changed to its fractional form 625/1000 and then divided by 125/125 to its equivalent simplest form 5/8.  Fractions such as 1/3 can be changed to decimal forms that have repeating forms, such as 0.333….  The repeating forms can then be changed into their fractional forms.

How can Fractions Be Changed to Percents?

Fractions can also be changed into percents, because percents are a particular type of fraction.  A percentage means “times 1/100”, so that a fraction such as ½ is 50% or ¾ is 75%.  They can be changed similarly as decimals to fractions, so that 50% means 50/100 or ½, and so on.

How Can Decimals Be Changed to Percents?

Decimals can be changed easily to percents, because the percent is merely the same thing as hundredths, or two decimal places to the right.  Therefore, 0.625 (or 5/8) is the same thing as saying 62.5% and 0.75 is the same thing as saying 75%.  To convert percents to decimals , the decimal places are moved to the left, so that 49% is the same thing as 0.49 and 55.12% is the same thing as 0.5512.

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