Convert percents to decimals

A percent represents a ratio per 100, so converting it to a decimal means dividing by 100, equivalently shifting the decimal point two places left; for example, $35\% = 0.35$ , $7\% = 0.07$ , and $125\% = 1.25$ . The understanding includes percents less than, equal to, and greater than 100%, and distinguishes the percent symbol from the resulting decimal; it does not extend to more advanced repeating or irrational representations.

Detailed Explanation: Convert percents to decimals

A percent means “per 100.” To convert a percent to a decimal, divide by $100$ . An easy way to do this is to move the decimal point two places to the left.

Example: Convert $125\%$ to a decimal

Write the percent as a number: $125$ .
Move the decimal point two places left. Since $125$ is written as $125.0$ , move the decimal point:

125.0 \rightarrow 12.50 \rightarrow 1.25

Remove the percent symbol. Therefore,

125\% = 1.25

The decimal point moves two places because a percent is divided by $100$ . This works for every percent:

A percent less than $100\%$ becomes a decimal less than $1$ , such as $7\% = 0.07$ .
$100\% = 1$ .
A percent greater than $100\%$ becomes a decimal greater than $1$ , such as $125\% = 1.25$ .

Learn by doing: Convert percents to decimals

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Percents to Decimals - Standard

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