The Meaning of Percent

Problem: What fraction of each grid is shaded?

Grid 1	Grid 2	Grid 3
Answer	Answer	Answer

Each grid above has 100 boxes. For each grid, the ratio of the number of shaded boxes to the total number of boxes can be represented as a fraction.

Comparing Shaded Boxes to Total Boxes
Grid	Ratio	Fraction
1	96 to 100
2	9 to 100
3	77 to 100

We can represent these fractions as percents using the symbol %.

=

96%

=

9%

=

77%

Definition: A percent is a ratio whose second term is 100. Percent means parts per hundred. The word comes from the Latin phrase per centum, which means per hundred. In mathematics, we use the symbol % for percent.

Let's look at our comparison table again. This time the table includes percents.

Comparing Shaded Boxes to Total Boxes
Grid	Ratio	Fraction	Percent
1	96 to 100		96%
2	09 to 100		09%
3	77 to 100		77%

Let's look at some examples in which we are asked to convert between ratios, fractions, decimals and percents.

Example 1: Write each ratio as a fraction, a decimal, and a percent:   4 to 100,   63 to 100,   17 to 100

Solution
Ratio	Fraction	Decimal	Percent
04 to 100		.04	04%
63 to 100		.63	63%
17 to 100		.17	17%

Example 2: Write each percent as a ratio, a fraction in lowest terms, and a decimal:   24%,   5%,   12.5%

Solution
Percent	Ratio	Fraction	Decimal
24%	24 to 100		.240
05%	05 to 100		.050
12.5%	12.5 to 100		.125

Example 3: Write each percent as a decimal:   91.2%,   4.9%,   86.75%

Summary: A percent is a ratio whose second term is 100. Percent means parts per hundred and we use the symbol % to represent it. In this lesson, we learned how to convert between ratios, fractions, decimals and percents.

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 ?

1.6       8 to 100       16%       None of the above.       RESULTS BOX: