Turn any fraction into a percentage instantly. Learn the two-step method of division and multiplication with our easy-to-follow guide for students and teachers.
Turning Fractions into Percentages
A fraction is just a division problem waiting to happen. To turn any fraction into a percentage, you first need to change it into a decimal. You do this by dividing the top number (the numerator) by the bottom number (the denominator). For example, if you have the fraction 1/2, you divide 1 by 2, which gives you 0.5. This decimal represents the portion of the whole that you have.
Once you have your decimal, the final step is to multiply it by 100. This “moves” the value into the percentage format. Taking our 0.5 and multiplying it by 100 gives us 50%. This tells us that 1/2 is exactly 50 per 100, or half of the total. If the top number of your fraction is bigger than the bottom, your percentage will be higher than 100%, which is common in sports stats or growth charts!
Learning this skill is super helpful for understanding grades on a test. If you got 18 out of 20 questions right, you can quickly divide 18 by 20 to get 0.9, then multiply by 100 to see that you earned a 90%.