How do You Turn a Percent Into a Decimal?
Wondering how to turn a percent into a decimal? Provided the frequency that percents occur, it is very crucial that you understand what a percent is and how you can use percents in performing calculations. Having said that, percent simply means "per one hundred" and is represented as %. Now, to convert a percent into a decimal, you need to divide by 100. This is just similar to moving the decimal point to two places to the left.
How do You Convert a Percent to a Decimal
Wondering how do you change a percent to a decimal? Percent to decimal conversion is not very difficult. That being said, for conversion of percent to decimal number, the percentage must be divided by 100:
1% = 1 / 100 = 0.01
8% = 8/100 = 0.08
10% = 10/100 = 0.1
25% = 25/100 = 0.25
40% = 40/100 = 0.40
50% = 50/100 = 0.5
100% = 100/100 = 1
450% = 450/100 = 4.5
For example, if you would want to convert 18% of GST in terms of decimal, it will be equivalent to the decimal 0.18.
Example on How to Calculate Percentage to Decimal
Example:
Let’s say there are 100 employees hired to work on a construction site. If only 57 are working on the site, then it means 57 per 100 employees showed up. This means 63% of the employees are doing their job.
If we look at this closely, we can observe that the fraction of the employees that
Are performing their job is 57/100, and this fraction can be expressed as 0.57.
57% is the same as 57/100.
57% is the same as 0.57.
Thus the example also shows how decimals, percents, and fractions are closely related and can be used to depict the same information.
How to Turn a Percent Into a Decimal
Divide by 100
Most interest rates are quoted and marketed with respect to a percentage. But if you want to do calculations with the help of those numbers, you’ll require converting them to decimal form. The easiest way to do this is by dividing the number by 100.
Example: To convert 92% to decimal format, divide 92 by 100, and we get:
92 ÷ 100 = .92
Move the Decimal Point to the Left
Another easiest way of converting a quoted percentage to decimal format is by moving the decimal to two places to the left.
If you don’t really see a decimal, just think that it’s at the end, or far right side, of the number. Think that the decimal is followed by two zeroes if that helps (so 92 are 92.00).
Example: To convert 92% to decimal format, move the decimal point before the 9.
92% = .92
After you do this a couple of times, it will become natural, and you’ll be able to do it immediately in your head.
Even with more complex numbers, you would still require to move the decimal to over two places. For better understanding, refer to a few more examples:
100% = 1
250% = 2.5
32.478% = .32478
.7% = .007
Solved Examples
Example:
Convert 0.10% to a fraction.
Solution:
1. Divide the percent by 100 in order to obtain a fraction.
2. Simplify the fraction now
Note: .10% = .010 = 10/1000
= 1/100
Example: Suppose that your bank pays a 2.50% annual percentage generated (APY) on your savings account. How much will you earn over one year (12months) if you deposit Rs. 100?
To determine, we will require converting the interest rate to decimal and multiplying the outcome by the amount of deposit.
2.50 ÷ 100 = .0250
2.50 * Rs. 100 = $2.50
You'll earn Rs. 2.50 per year for every Rs.100 that you deposit.
Fun Facts
Search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing also make it easy to run quick calculations online, using a calculator app.
All you need to do is type the expression you’re trying to solve into the search box and you will get your answer.
FAQs on Convert Percents to Decimals
Q1. Is Converting a Percent Into a Decimal Using the Above Methods Accurate?
Answer: For good or bad, sometimes financial calculations like this only give you an approximation of how much you’ll earn or spend, although that rough idea is still useful for making big-picture, quick evaluations.
Having said that, converting a percentage to a decimal using the given methods is accurate, but it is still essential to know what to do with that number after you have converted it. For example, suppose that you’ll borrow Rs. 100,000 to buy a car with a 30-year mortgage, and the interest rate is 7% per year. Find out how much you will spend on interest each year? As part of solution, 7/100 = 0.07.
0.07 × Rs. 100,000 = Rs.7, 000.
Q2. What are the Different Operations with Percents?
Answer: Operations with percents includes the following:
Addition and Subtraction of Percents
Operations involving addition and subtraction can be done on percents without any conversion required.
Example:
When you add 20% and 40% you get 60%.
20% + 40% = 60%
When you subtract 30% from 50% you get 20%.
50% - 30% = 20%
Multiplication and Division of Percents
With multiplication and division, percents must be converted to either fractions or decimals before performing these operations. This should be performed because of how the decimal point is carried during these operations.
When conducting any multiplication or division with percents, you are required to go through the following steps:
Convert any percent to fraction (or a decimal).
Do the operation specified.
Convert the resultant back to a percent.
Example of Multiplying Percents
When we multiply 50% by 25% (this would be 25% of 50%), we must:
Convert any percents to decimals
25%/100 = 0.25
50%/100 = 0.5
Do the operation specified.
0.25 * 0.5 = 0.125
Convert the resultant back to a percent.
0.125 × 100 = 12.5%
