Convert a percent to a fraction or decimal (or back) as a computational STEP toward answering a percent question. Use when the conversion serves a percent calculation, not for bare identify/order-the-equivalent-forms questions (see ns/fraction-decimal-percent-equivalence).
Free, timed SHSAT practice sets on percent/fraction/decimal conversion— every question includes a full worked explanation, and there's no account required.
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Percents, decimals and fractions are three ways to write the same amount. Pick the form that makes the arithmetic easiest.
To take a fraction of a number, divide by the bottom and multiply by the top: \(\tfrac{3}{8}\) of 40 is \(40 \div 8 \times 3 = 15\).
Learn the common pairs: \(\tfrac{1}{4} = 25\%\), \(\tfrac{1}{8} = 12.5\%\), \(\tfrac{3}{20} = 15\%\), \(\tfrac{3}{8} = 37.5\%\).
Traps: moving the decimal point the wrong way or only one place (an answer 10 times too big or too small), finding the part that is not asked for (\(1 - \tfrac{3}{8}\) instead of \(\tfrac{3}{8}\)), and dividing by the bottom but forgetting to multiply by the top. A fraction less than 1 of a number always gives a smaller number.
\(0.35\) is 35%, so the clearance value is 35% of \(\$49.00\), which is \(\$17.15\). (Moving the decimal point the wrong way (using \(3.5\) instead of \(0.35\)) gives $171.50. Reading \(0.35\) as 3.5% instead of 35% gives about $1.72. Finding the value NOT on clearance (\(1 - 0.35 = 0.65\) of the stock) gives $31.85.)
\(3/8\) of 88 \(= 88 \div 8 \times 3 = 33\) passengers (that fraction equals 37.5%). (Finding the passengers who did NOT sign up (\(88 - 33\)) gives 55. Dividing by 8 and forgetting to multiply by 3 gives 11. Treating \(3/8\) as the ratio \(3:8\), so 3 out of 11 (\(88 \times 3/11\)) gives 24.)
\(3/10\) of 300 \(= 300 \div 10 \times 3 = 90\) employees (that fraction equals 30%). (Finding the employees who did NOT sign up (\(300 - 90\)) gives 210. Dividing by 10 and forgetting to multiply by 3 gives 30. Reading \(3/10\) as 3% (\(300 \times 3/100\)) gives 9.)