Key Concepts
Percentages are fractions! Let us explain the mystery to you. First, a percentage is not an ordinary fraction. No matter what its numerator is, its denominator is always 100. For example, 1/100, 5/100, etc. Because the denominator has only one value, we use the percent sign (%) to represent it. Rewritten as 5%. 100%.
Percentages, Fractions, and Decimals
First of all, converting percentages to fractions and decimals is very easy. Please remember that the denominator of a percentage fraction is always 100. For example, 5% is written as 5/100. To convert a percentage to a decimal, simply move the decimal point two places to the left and remove the percent sign.
| Percents | Fractions | Decimals |
| 0% | 0/100 | 0 |
| 15% | 15/100 | 0.15 |
| 30% | 30/100 | 0.30 |
| 45% | 45/100 | 0.45 |
| 60% | 60/100 | 0.60 |
| 75% | 75/100 | 0.75 |
| 90% | 90/100 | 0.90 |
| 100% | 100/100 | 1 |
| 125% | 125/100 | 1.25 |
Types of Percentages
0%: 0% is 0/100. We call it a "zero fraction" because its value is 0.
0-100%: 5%, 10%, and 15% are common percentages.
100%: 100% is 100/100. We call this an "integer fraction." The numerator and denominator are the same, so its value is 1.
Over 100%: Amounts exceeding 100% are valid. For example, 150/100 conforms to the rules of "improper fractions."
Conclusion
A percentage is a special fraction with a denominator of 100. We can freely convert percentages between fractions and decimals. This is just the basics of percentages. If you are interested in other topics in mathematics, please read our other content.
