Relating Fractions, Decimals, and Percents

A decimal is a fraction and vice versa. To change a fraction to a percent, you first determine the decimal value and then fiddle with the decimal point. That s all there s to it — really. 

To write a fraction as a decimal, you divide the numerator by the denominator, inserting the decimal point where needed. To change a decimal to a percent, you move the decimal point two places to the right and use a percent sign (%). 

For instance, changing the fraction to a percent, you first find the decimal 

Fractions all have decimal values, but some of these decimals terminate (come to an end) and some repeat (never end). As long as the denominator of the fraction is the product of 2s and 5s and nothing else, then the decimal equivalent of the fraction will terminate. To find this terminating decimal, you divide the denominator (bottom) of the fraction into the numerator (top) and keep dividing until there s no remainder. You may have to keep adding 0s in the divisor for a while, but the division will end. 

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