# How to Change a Percent to a Decimal

To convert a percentage to a decimal, simply divide the percentage by 100. A simple way to do this is to move the decimal two places to the left. Whenever you see a number, there is an implied decimal there, even if it is not shown. Take the following percentage: 59% Though there is no visible decimal, there is assumed to be one after the ones place, which in this example is valued at 9. So it can be rewritten as 59.0%. Now you can move the decimal two places to the left to get your answer which is .59

Changing Percent to Decimal

## Changing Percent to Decimal

There are two methods to convert a percent to a decimal. The first method is to change the percent to a fraction and then convert the fraction to a decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator.

We’ll use that method on 40 percent. 40 percent as a fraction is 40/100, which we would then simplify to 2/5. Then when our fraction is simplified, we can convert our fraction to a decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator. 2 divided by five is 4/10. 40 percent as a decimal is 4/10.

The other method is to move the decimal place two places to the left in your percent. Which is effectively like dividing by 100. We’ll use that method on 25 percent. We’re supposed to move the decimal place two places to the left, but where is it? If you don’t see a decimal point in your number, it’s at the end of your number.

There is our decimal point that we’re going to move 1, 2 places to the left which gives us 25 hundredths. 25 percent as a decimal is 25 hundredths. Your two methods are: changing percent to a fraction and your reaction to a decimal by dividing numerator by denominator or move your decimal 2 places to the left.

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by Mometrix Test Preparation | Last Updated: June 15, 2020