To convert a percent to a decimal, divide by 100 — or simply move the decimal point two places to the left.
Decimal = Percent ÷ 100
Examples
Common Conversions
75% → move decimal 2 left → 0.75
42% → move decimal 2 left → 0.42
100% → move decimal 2 left → 1.00
Watch the Tricky Ones
8% → you need a leading zero → 0.08
0.5% → half a percent → 0.005
150% → more than 1.00 → 1.50
Why Divide by 100?
"Percent" literally means "per hundred." So 75% means 75 per 100, which is the fraction 75/100. Dividing 75 by 100 gives you 0.75. Moving the decimal two places left is just a shortcut for dividing by 100.
💡 Quick Check: If the percent is less than 100%, your decimal should be less than 1. If it's more than 100%, the decimal should be more than 1.
🎯 Practice Problems
1. Convert 45% to a decimal.
A) 4.5
B) 0.045
C) 0.45
D) 45.0
2. Convert 7% to a decimal.
A) 0.7
B) 7.0
C) 0.07
D) 0.007
3. Convert 100% to a decimal.
A) 10.0
B) 0.1
C) 0.01
D) 1.0
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