Fractions, decimals & percentages
Fractions, decimals & percentages
The same value can be written as a fraction, a decimal or a percentage. 'Per cent' means 'out of 100'.
Handy equivalents
ā¢ 1/2 = 0.5 = 50% ā¢ 1/4 = 0.25 = 25% ā¢ 3/4 = 0.75 = 75% ā¢ 1/10 = 0.1 = 10% Tip: writing a fraction in tenths or hundredths makes it easy to turn into a percentage.
Worked examples
A half
- 1/2 means 5 out of every 10, or 50 out of 100.
- 50 out of 100 is 50%.
Answer: 1/2 = 0.5 = 50%
Three quarters
- 3/4 is the same as 75 out of 100.
- 75 out of 100 is 75%.
Answer: 3/4 = 0.75 = 75%
Where you see this in real life
- Reading '50% off' sale signs in shops.
- Understanding a 0.5 litre bottle is half a litre.
- Seeing a battery at 75% charge.
Key words
- Percentage
- A number out of 100, shown with the % sign.
- Decimal
- A number that uses a decimal point to show parts of a whole.
- Equivalent
- Having the same value, even if written differently.