- Convert fractions to decimals and percents
Remember that the fraction bar indicates division. So [latex]{\dfrac{7}{12}}[/latex] can also be written as [latex]7\div 12[/latex]. This means that we can convert a fraction to a decimal by treating it as a division problem.
Fraction to a Decimal
Divide the numerator by the denominator. Using a calculator makes this very simple.
[latex]\dfrac{7}{12} = 7 ÷ 12 = 0.58333\ldots[/latex]
Sometimes we will need to round:
| Tenths | one decimal place | [latex]0.6[/latex] |
| Hundredths | two decimal places | [latex]0.58[/latex] |
| Thousandths | three decimal places | [latex]0.583[/latex] |
Decimal to a Percent
Move the decimal over two places to the right (this is the same as multiplying by [latex]100[/latex]) and rewrite as a percent.
[latex]0.58333[/latex]
[latex]58.333\%[/latex]