Percent Skills
Percent means per hundred, thus we use our short cut skills of multiplying and dividing by 100
(Multiply moves two to the right and divide moves two places to the left)
Changing Decimals to Percent
To write 0.875 as a percent, you move the decimal place two places to the right so it becomes 87.5%.
Changing Percent to Decimals
To write 65% as a decimal, you move the decimal place two places to the left so it becomes 0.65
Changing Fractions to Percent
1st change the fraction to a decimal by either writing an equivalent fraction with a denominator of
100 as in Example 1 below or
Dividing the numerator (top) by the denominator (bottom) then move the decimal place two places to
the right as in Example 2 below
Ex. 1
Change 17/25 to a %
17/25 = ?/100
Multiply the numerator by 4
17/25 = 68/100
Percent means per 100
or 68%
Ex. 2
Change ⅛ to a %
⅛ = 0.125
Divide 1 by 8
0.125 = 12.5%
Move decimal 2 places to the right
Percents Greater than 100
To write 2.6 as a percent, still move the decimal two places to the right. So 2.6 as a percent = 260%
To write 180% as a decimal, still move the decimal two places to the left. So 180% as a
decimal = 1.8
Ratio and Rate
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Ratio is when we compare one number with another expressed in the same unit.
Be careful the order that you write them is important.
It can be expressed as a fraction or as a ratio. For example if there were 16 males
and 10 females in our math class, then we would compare the males to females
as follows:
Ex. 1
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16:10 in ratio form
or 16/10 in fraction form
Equivalent ratio skills are used to solve problems.
Vince Carter shoots an average of 24 shots per game while scoring 18 baskets. If
he attempted 32 shots in game last night, how many baskets do you think he
scored?
Note in the order that are written step 1 below
Step 1 24 shots : 18 baskets
= 32 shots : ? baskets
4 shots : 3 baskets
= 32 shots : ? baskets
Step 2 4 : 3 = 32 : 24
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Note in step 2 above that we reduced 24: 18 to lowest terms then in step 3 we
created an equivalent ratio of 4:3 = 32:24 by multiplying both terms by 8. This is
called a proportion.
Rate is when we compare quantities in different units
Sometimes unit rates are used to help us solve problems as in the example
below.
If Megan earned $50 for working 8 hours last weekend, how much would she
earn for working 14 hours next weekend?
To solve we need to find how much she earns in one hour or the unit rate. So
you would divide 8 into 50 to find that she earns $6.25 per hour.
To find how much she earned in 14 h you would multiply 6.25 x 14 = 87.5. So
she would earn $87.50 next weekend.