Fractions, Decimals And Percentages

Pizzas are very useful, mathematically speaking. However much we hate fractions, we all know what half a pizza looks like, and that's the point. Numbers don't have any intrinsic meaning, and we can't picture them unless they relate to something in the real world, so pizzas are just a useful way of illustrating fractions, decimals and percentages. They all do the same job of showing what share of something you have, and a common question involves converting from one to another, so here are a few tips.

Fractions to decimals

Calculator

Simply divide the numerator by the denominator, eg 3/4 = 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75. Non-calculator

You can always use the standard 'bus stop' method to divide the numerator by the denominator on paper (or in your head), but the numbers may be easy enough for you to use a short cut.

If the denominator is a power of 10 (eg 10 or 100), write the numerator down straight away as a decimal. You just have to make sure you end up in the right column, eg a given number of hundredths needs to end in the second column after the decimal point, such as 0.29. If the denominator ends in zero, you may be able to simplify the fraction into tenths first and then convert it into a decimal, eg 16/20 = 8/10 = 0.8. If you express the fraction in its lowest terms by simplifying it (ie dividing the numerator and denominator by the same numbers until you can't go any further), you may recognise a common fraction that you can easily convert, eg 36/45 = 4/5 = 0.8. Fractions to percentages

Calculator

Simply divide the numerator by the denominator, multiply by 100 and add the '%' sign, eg 3/4 = 3 ÷ 4 x 100 = 0.75 x 100 = 75%. Non-calculator

You can always convert the fraction into a decimal (see above) and then multiply by 100 and add the '%' sign. Otherwise, try these short cuts in order.

If the denominator is a factor of 100 (eg 10, 20, 25 or 50), multiply the numerator by whatever number will turn the denominator into 100 and add the '%' sign, eg 18/25 = 18 x 4 = 72%. If the denominator is a multiple of 10 (eg 20, 40 or 70), divide the numerator by the first digit(s) of the denominator to turn the fraction into tenths, multiply the numerator by 10 and add the '%' sign, eg 32/80 = 32 ÷ 8 x 10 = 4 x 10 = 40%. If you express the fraction in its lowest terms by simplifying it (ie dividing the numerator and denominator by the same numbers until you can't go any further), you may recognise a common fraction that you can easily convert, eg 8/64 = 1/8 = 12.5%. Decimals to fractions

Every decimal is really a fraction in disguise, so the method is the same whether you're allowed a calculator or not.

Calculator/non-calculator

Check the final column of the decimal (eg tenths or hundredths) and place all the digits over the relevant power of 10 before simplifying if possible, eg 0.625 = 625/1000 = 5/8. Decimals to percentages

Again, this is an easy one, so the method is the same whether you're allowed a calculator or not.

Calculator/non-calculator

Multiply by 100 and add the '%' sign, eg 0.375 x 100 = 37.5%. Percentages to fractions

You can think of a percentage as simply a fraction over 100, so the method is easy enough whether you're allowed a calculator or not.

Calculator/non-calculator

If the percentage is a whole number, remove the '%' sign, place the percentage over 100 and simplify if necessary, eg 75% = 75/100 = 3/4. If not, turn the fraction into a whole number as you go by multiplying the numerator and denominator by whatever number you need to (usually 2, 3 or 4), eg 37.5% = (37.5 x 2) / (100 x 2) = 75/200 = 3/8. Percentages to decimals

This is easy enough, so the method is the same whether you're allowed a calculator or not.

Calculator/non-calculator

Remove the '%' sign and divide by 100, eg 70% ÷ 100 = 0.7.