Solution: 36/72 as a percent is 50%
Methods
Method 1 – Converting 36/72 Into a Percentage:
In a fraction, the number above the line is called the numerator, and the number below the line is called the denominator. The fraction shows how many “pieces” of the number there are, compared to how many there are possible. For instance, in the fraction 36/72, we could say that there are 36 pieces out of a possible 72 pieces.
“Percent” means “per hundred”, so for percentages we want to know how many pieces there are if there are 100 pieces possible. For example, if we look at the percentage 75%, that means we have 75 pieces of the possible 100. Re-writing this in fraction form, we see 75/100.
When converting the fraction into a percent, the first step is to adjust the fraction so that there will be 100 pieces possible (the denominator needs to be changed to 100). To do this, you first divide 100 by the denominator:
100
72
=
1.389
\frac{100}{72} = 1.389
72 100 = 1.389
We can then adjust the whole fraction using this number, like so:
36
∗
1.389
72
∗
1.389
=
50
100
\frac{36*1.389}{72*1.389} = \frac{50}{100}
72 ∗ 1.389 36 ∗ 1.389 = 100 50
As you can see, there are 50 pieces out of a possible 100 pieces. Re-writing this as a percentage, we can see that 36/72 as a percentage is 50%.
Method 2 – Converting 36/72 Into a Percentage Using Decimals:
If you already know how to convert a fraction into a decimal, you can also use this method as a step for converting to a percentage. Let’s show you how.
First, convert the fraction into a decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator:
36
72
=
0.5
\frac{36}{72} = 0.5
72 36 = 0.5
If we multiply the decimal by 100, we will get the percentage:
0.5 * 100 = 50
Now we can see that 36/72 as a percentage is 50.
Try out both methods and see which one works best for you! Some people like to use the first method, while others will prefer to use the decimal method. There is no “best” way to convert fractions into percentages, just choose the method that works for you.
Try some more percentage problems
With a just a few more problems, you could become a pro at converting fractions to percentages. You can try some more right now!
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