Converting Fractions into Decimals and Percentages

TranscriptFAQsFact SheetPractice

Hello and welcome to this video about converting fractions to decimals and percents! In this video, we will explore:

How to visually convert fractions to decimals and percents
How to numerically convert fractions to decimals and percents

Before we get started, let’s review a couple of key concepts that we will use to help the math make sense.

Consider the fraction \(\frac{10}{10}\). One way to think about fractions is to think of them as division.

\(\frac{10}{10}=1\)

In other words, ten-tenths is one whole.

The fraction \(\frac{10}{10}\) can be written equivalently as \(\frac{100}{100}\). The fraction bar can be said as “per,” so this expression can be said as “100 per 100.” The word “percent” literally means “per 100,” so “100 per 100” means 100 percent.

Therefore, when the same number is divided by itself, the result as a decimal is 1 and as a percent is 100%.

But what happens when our fraction is less than 1? Let’s take a look.

Consider the fraction \(\frac{1}{4}\). Visually, this is what’s happening:

We can see in the diagram that \(\frac{1}{4}\) of the whole is \(\frac{25}{100}\). Since \(\frac{25}{100}\) means “25 per 100,” it equals 25%.

Now let’s figure out how to convert this into a decimal.

Converting Fraction to Decimal

We’re going to take our fraction \(\frac{1}{4}\), which is the same as saying 1 divided by 4.

Dividing this way doesn’t look like it will work. But using our knowledge of place value, we can make it work:

First, rewrite the 1 as 1.0. Instead of 1, the dividend is now ten tenths.

Second, 4 ones will go into ten-tenths two-tenths times.

Third, \(4\times 0.2=0.8\).

Fourth, \(1.0 -0.8 = 0.2\).

Fifth, we’re gonna rewrite the original dividend as 100-hundredths and bring the new 0 down.

Sixth, 4 ones goes into 20-hundredths 5-hundredths times.

Seventh, we’re gonna multiply \(4\times 0.05=0.20\). Then we’ll subtract to get 0.

This means \(\frac{1}{4}\)\(=0.25\).

How to Convert Fraction to Percent

Let’s see this work with a non-unit fraction, like \(\frac{3}{16}\).

Here’s what the division looks like. The sequence of adding a decimal and dividing repeats as often as necessary until either the remainder is 0 or the decimal begins to repeat.

So, \(\frac{3}{16}=0.1875\) and \(0.1875=\frac{1,875}{10,000}=\frac{18.75}{100}\). Therefore, 0.1875 is the same as 18.75% because it’s 18.75 per, 100.

How about a repeating decimal? Everything is the same and the process can be stopped when it is clear that the decimal repeats. Here’s a quick example: \(\frac{1}{3}\).

The process of subtracting 9 units from 10 units repeats, causing the decimal to repeat.

Lastly, consider a fraction that is greater than 1, such as \(\frac{5}{2}\).

Visually, here’s what we have:

We can see that the shaded quantity is \(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2}=\frac{5}{2}\). Each \(\frac{1}{2}\)\(=50\), so we can say equivalently \(\frac{250}{100}\), which, as a decimal, is 2.5 (meaning \(2\frac{1}{2}\) wholes, which the diagram shows). We can also equivalently say 250 per 100, or 250%.

And the same works for the division as well:

Thanks for watching and happy studying!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

How do you change a fraction into a percent?

A

Converting a fraction to a percent can be accomplished in \(2\) quick steps.

Step 1: Divide the numerator by the denominator.
Step 2: Multiply this decimal by \(100\).

For example, \(\frac{2}{5}\) shows a numerator of \(2\), and a denominator of \(5\).

Step 1:

This is the same as:

This equals \(0.4\) when using the process of long division.

Step 2: \(0.4\times100=40\). This means that the fraction \(\frac{2}{5}\) represents \(40\%\).

Q

How do I turn fractions into decimals?

A

Fractions can be converted into decimals by using long division. For example, the fraction \(\frac{4}{25}\) is expressing “4 divided by 25.” This can be set up as 25⟌4. Place a decimal and zeros after the 4 so that it becomes 4.00. Now we have 25⟌4.00. We know that 25 does not go into 4, but it does go into 40 one time. From here, the standard rules of long division apply. The result will be 0.16. The important thing to remember is that the fraction bar represents division, so fractions can be calculated as decimals by dividing the numerator by the denominator.

Q

What is the meaning of a fraction bar?

A

A fraction represents “part” out of “whole.” The fraction bar separating the “part” and the “whole” represents division. For example, the fraction \(\frac{5}{9}\) represents 5 parts out of 9 parts, or “5 divided by 9.” Another way to think about this, is that the fraction bar represents “per.” For example, \(\frac{40}{100}\) represents “40 per 100.”

Q

What does percent mean?

A

Percent means “per 100.” For example, 96\% represents “96 per 100.” This also represents the fraction \(\frac{96}{100}\). All percents can be expressed as a fraction because percents are always out of 100. Percents will sometimes be smaller than 1, and larger than 100. For example, 125% represents \(\frac{125}{100}\), and the percent 0.5% represents \(\frac{0.5}{100}\).

Q

Why do you divide a fraction to turn it into a decimal?

A

Fractions represent a “part” out of a “whole.” The fraction bar separating the part and the whole represents division. This means that all fractions can be converted into decimals by dividing the numerator by the denominator.

For example, the fraction \(\frac{4}{5}\) represents “4 out of 5,” or 4 divided by 5. This fraction can be converted into a decimal by dividing 4 by 5. The problem 5⟌4 can be solved if a decimal point and zeros are added to the right of the 4. This means 5⟌4 becomes 5⟌4.00. We know that 5 goes into 40 eight times, and the rest of the process follows the standard rules of long division. The result is 0.8.