Students usually meet percents in 6th grade, right after fractions and decimals, as a third way to describe part of a whole. Then, a percent appears in later math, in ratios, proportions, discounts, and statistics.
We can also come across percents outside of math class. At a store, “25% off” tells us how much less we pay. After a test, we can see how much of it we got right through a score written as a percent.
Today, Mathnasium tutors will show you two easy ways to turn any fraction into a percent. Plus, you'll find a quick-reference table for common fraction-to-percent conversions.
A percent (or a percentage) is a way of expressing a number as a part of 100, and it uses the % symbol to show that. When we see 50%, that means 50 out of 100.
We can think of a percent just as a special kind of fraction, one that always has 100 as its denominator.
If we score 80 out of 100 on a quiz, we naturally call that 80%. We do not have to convert anything because the score is already out of 100.
That is a percent in its simplest form. Now we'll use the same idea with any fraction, including fractions that do not already have a denominator of 100.
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There are two reliable ways to turn a fraction into a percent. Both methods lead to the same answer, so we can choose the one that feels easier for the fraction in front of us.
The equivalent fraction method works best when the denominator is a factor of 100. In other words, when we can divide the denominator into 100 evenly. This lets us change the fraction into an equivalent fraction out of 100 without doing long division.
When we see one of these denominators, this method is usually our easiest path:
\(\frac{1}{2}\) → 100 ÷ 2 = 50, so \(\frac{1}{2}\) = \(\frac{50}{100}\) = 50%
\(\frac{1}{4}\) → 100 ÷ 4 = 25, so \(\frac{1}{4}\) = \(\frac{25}{100}\) = 25%
\(\frac{1}{5}\) → 100 ÷ 5 = 20, so \(\frac{1}{5}\) = \(\frac{20}{100}\) = 20%
\(\frac{1}{10}\) → 100 ÷ 10 = 10, so \(\frac{1}{10}\) = \(\frac{10}{100}\) = 10%
\(\frac{1}{20}\) → 100 ÷ 20 = 5, so \(\frac{1}{20}\) = \(\frac{5}{100}\) = 5%
\(\frac{1}{25}\) → 100 ÷ 25 = 4, so \(\frac{1}{25}\) = \(\frac{4}{100}\) = 4%
\(\frac{1}{50}\) → 100 ÷ 50 = 2, so \(\frac{1}{50}\) = \(\frac{2}{100}\) = 2%
At Mathnasium, we help students understand a new method by starting with one clear example and working through it step by step We’ll convert \(\frac{3}{20}\) using this method.
Step 1: Find what to multiply the denominator by to reach 100. We ask ourselves what 20 needs to be multiplied by to become 100. To find that out, we can divide 20 into 100. 100 20 = 5. So to turn 20 into 100, we need to multiply it by 5. Our multiplier is 5.
Step 2: Multiply both the numerator and denominator by that number. Whatever we do to the denominator, we have to do to the numerator too, so that the fraction doesn’t change its value. We multiply 3 × 5 = 15 and 20 × 5 = 100, which gives us \(\frac{15}{100}\).
Step 3: Write the result as a percent. \(\frac{15}{100}\) means 15 out of 100. So, we can write it directly as 15%.
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When the denominator is not a factor of 100, we can use the division (decimal) method to turn a fraction into a percent. Let's convert \(\frac{5}{8}\) using this method.
Step 1: Divide the numerator by the denominator. We divide 5 ÷ 8, and get 0.625.
Step 2: Multiply the decimal by 100. Then, we multiply 0.625 × 100, which is 62.5. We can make this step faster with this shortcut: multiplying by 100 shifts the decimal point two places to the right.
Step 3: Add the percent sign. We can write our answer as 62.5%.
Pretty simple, right?
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We need to convert some fractions to percent so often that it helps to remember their percent equivalents instead of recalculating them every time. Here’s a quick-reference table for the conversions we’ll use most often.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Fraction |
Decimal |
Percent |
| \(\Large\frac{1}{2}\) | 0.5 |
50% |
| \(\Large\frac{1}{4}\)
|
0.25 |
25% |
| \(\Large\frac{3}{4}\)
|
0.75 |
75% |
| \(\Large\frac{1}{5}\)
|
0.2 |
20% |
| \(\Large\frac{2}{5}\)
|
0.4 |
40% |
| \(\Large\frac{3}{5}\)
|
0.6 |
60% |
| \(\Large\frac{4}{5}\)
|
0.8 |
80% |
| \(\Large\frac{1}{10}\)
|
0.1 |
10% |
| \(\Large\frac{1}{3}\)
|
≈ 0.333
|
≈33.3% |
| \(\Large\frac{2}{3}\)
|
≈ 0.667
|
≈ 66.7% |
| \(\Large\frac{1}{8}\)
|
0.125 |
12.5% |
| \(\Large\frac{3}{8}\)
|
0.375 |
37.5% |
| \(\Large\frac{5}{8}\)
|
0.625 |
62.5% |
| \(\Large\frac{7}{8}\)
|
0.875 |
87.5% |
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Now, you can practice both ways of turning fractions into percents on your own. Pick whichever method fits each fraction best, and check your answers at the bottom of the page.
Convert \(\frac{7}{10}\) to a percent.
Convert \(\frac{3}{8}\) to a percent.
Convert \(\frac{9}{25}\) to a percent.
Convert \(\frac{5}{6}\) to a percent.
Convert \(\frac{11}{20}\) to a percent.
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Mathnasium is a math-only learning center that helps K–12 students of all skill levels excel in math.
We work with students to build a solid understanding of any math topic, including fractions, decimals, and percents, so they know why conversion methods work instead of just memorizing steps.
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We start with a diagnostic assessment to identify your child’s exact strengths, gaps, and learning needs, including the fraction, decimal, and percent foundations behind conversion.
From there, we create a personalized learning plan focused on the skills the student needs most, whether that means building fraction sense, decimal fluency, understanding percents, or connecting all three with confidence.
Our specially trained tutors use visual, verbal, tactile, and written techniques to help students make sense of math in a way that feels clear and natural.
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Ready to see how you did? Here are the worked solutions to the practice problems above.
\(\Large\frac{7}{10}\) → 100 ÷ 10 = 10. Our multiplier is 10. So 7 × 10 = 70, 10 × 10 = 100, which gives us \(\Large\frac{70}{100}\) = 70%.
\(\Large\frac{3}{8}\) → 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375, so 0.375 × 100 = 37.5%.
\(\Large\frac{9}{25}\) → 100 ÷ 25 = 4. Our multiplier is 4. So 9 × 4 = 36, 25 × 4 = 100, which gives us \(\Large\frac{36}{100}\) = 36%.
\(\Large\frac{5}{6}\) → 5 ÷ 6 ≈ 0.833, so 0.833 × 100 ≈ 83.3%.
\(\Large\frac{11}{20}\) → 100 ÷ 20 = 5. Our multiplier is 5. So 11 × 5 = 55, 20 × 5 = 100, which gives us \(\Large\frac{55}{100}\) = 55%.
Mathnasium of The Woodlands is a math-only learning center for K-12 students in The Woodlands, TX. Trusted by over a million parents, Mathnasium uses personalized learning plans and the proprietary Mathnasium Method™ to help students catch up, keep up, and get ahead on their math journey.
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