How to Do Percentages in Standard American English
Percentages are a way of expressing a fraction as a hundredth. They are often used to represent parts of a whole, or to compare different values. For example, you might say that the population of a city is 50% female, or that the sales of a product increased by 25% last year.
To convert a fraction to a percentage, you simply multiply the fraction by 100. For example, to convert the fraction 1/2 to a percentage, you would multiply 1/2 by 100, which gives you 50%.
To convert a decimal to a percentage, you simply move the decimal point two places to the right. For example, to convert the decimal 0.5 to a percentage, you would move the decimal point two places to the right, which gives you 50%.
To convert a percentage to a fraction, you simply divide the percentage by 100. For example, to convert the percentage 50% to a fraction, you would divide 50 by 100, which gives you 1/2.
To convert a percentage to a decimal, you simply move the decimal point two places to the left. For example, to convert the percentage 50% to a decimal, you would move the decimal point two places to the left, which gives you 0.5.
Percentages in Everyday Life
Percentages are used in a wide variety of everyday situations. Here are a few examples:
- Sales tax: Sales tax is a percentage of the price of a product or service. For example, if the sales tax rate is 8%, then you will pay $0.08 for every $1.00 that you spend.
- Interest rates: Interest rates are a percentage of the amount of money that you borrow. For example, if you borrow $100 at an interest rate of 5%, then you will pay $5 in interest each year.
- Discounts: Discounts are a percentage of the original price of a product or service. For example, if a store is offering a 20% discount on all clothing, then you will pay $0.80 for every $1.00 that you would normally spend.
- Grades: Grades are a percentage of the total number of points that you earn in a class. For example, if you earn 90 points out of a possible 100 points, then you will receive a grade of 90%.
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between a percentage and a fraction?
A: A percentage is a fraction that is expressed as a hundredth. For example, the fraction 1/2 is equivalent to the percentage 50%.
Q: How do I convert a fraction to a percentage?
A: To convert a fraction to a percentage, you simply multiply the fraction by 100. For example, to convert the fraction 1/2 to a percentage, you would multiply 1/2 by 100, which gives you 50%.
Q: How do I convert a decimal to a percentage?
A: To convert a decimal to a percentage, you simply move the decimal point two places to the right. For example, to convert the decimal 0.5 to a percentage, you would move the decimal point two places to the right, which gives you 50%.
Q: How do I convert a percentage to a fraction?
A: To convert a percentage to a fraction, you simply divide the percentage by 100. For example, to convert the percentage 50% to a fraction, you would divide 50 by 100, which gives you 1/2.
Q: How do I convert a percentage to a decimal?
A: To convert a percentage to a decimal, you simply move the decimal point two places to the left. For example, to convert the percentage 50% to a decimal, you would move the decimal point two places to the left, which gives you 0.5.
