convert 13.5% into a simplified fraction.
The correct answer and explanation is:
β Correct Answer:
13.5% = 27/200
π§ Explanation (300 words):
To convert 13.5% into a simplified fraction, follow these clear steps:
Step 1: Understand What Percent Means
The word “percent” literally means “per hundred.”
So, 13.5% = 13.5 per 100, or: 13.5%=13.510013.5\% = \frac{13.5}{100}
Step 2: Remove the Decimal
To eliminate the decimal in 13.5, multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 10: 13.5Γ10100Γ10=1351000\frac{13.5 \times 10}{100 \times 10} = \frac{135}{1000}
Step 3: Simplify the Fraction
Now simplify 135/1000 by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their Greatest Common Divisor (GCD).
The GCD of 135 and 1000 is 5. 135Γ·51000Γ·5=27200\frac{135 \div 5}{1000 \div 5} = \frac{27}{200}
β Final Answer:
13.5%=2720013.5\% = \frac{27}{200}
π Why Itβs Useful to Convert Percents to Fractions
- Fractions are exact values in math, especially useful in algebra, measurements, and probability.
- When doing calculations by hand, fractions can sometimes be easier to manipulate than decimals or percents.
- Understanding this process builds number sense, helping with topics like ratios, proportions, and percentages in real-life situations (e.g., discounts, statistics, cooking).
π Quick Summary
- Percent to fraction: write over 100
- 13.5% = 13.5/100
- Multiply top and bottom by 10 β 135/1000
- Simplify by dividing by 5 β 27/200
Now you can confidently say: 13.5%=2720013.5\% = \frac{27}{200}