Writing Decimals as Percents

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Writing Decimals as Percents

Unit 4 > Lesson 3 of 9

Problem:	What percent of a dollar is 76 cents?
	$1.00 = 1.0
	76 cents = .76
	.76 = 76%
Solution:	76% of a dollar is 76 cents.

The solution to the above problem is not surprising, since dollars, cents and percents are all based on the number 100. To convert a decimal to a percent, multiply the decimal by 100, then add on the % symbol. An easy way to multiply a decimal by 100 is to move the decimal point two places to the right. This is done in the example below.

Example 1:

Write each decimal as a percent: . 93, .08, .67, .41

Solution
Decimal	Percent
.93	93%
.08	08%
.67	67%
.41	41%

Each decimal in Example 1 went out two places to the right of the decimal point. However, a decimal can have any number of places to the right of the decimal point. Let's look at Examples 2 and 3 below.

Example 2:

Write each decimal as a percent: .786, .002, .059, .8719

Solution
Decimal	Percent
.7860	78.6%
.0020	.2%
.0590	5.9%
.8719	87.19%

Example 3: Write each decimal as a percent:     .1958,     .007,    .05623,    .071362

Solution

Decimal Percent

.195800 19.58%

.007000       .7%

.056230   5.623%

.071362   7.1362%

Summary:

To write a decimal as a percent, multiply it by 100, then add on the % symbol. To multiply a decimal by 100, move the decimal point two places to the right. Do not forget to include the percent symbol when writing a percent.

Exercises

Directions: Read each question below. Select your answer by clicking on its button. Feedback to your answer is provided in the RESULTS BOX. If you make a mistake, choose a different button.

1. Which of the following is equal to .475?

      475%
      47.5%
      4.75%
      None of the above.

      RESULTS BOX: