Question

How do you convert 39% to a decimal?

Answer 1

Hint: Here in this question, we are given a number in percentage. First we have to convert this percentage into fraction and then into decimal number. When we remove the percentage(%) sign, then 100 will be placed in the denominator of that number. Decimal is represented by the dot(.) symbol. If 10, 100, 1000 and so on are in the denominator, then the decimal point will be shifted from right to left.

Complete step by step answer:
Now, let’s solve the question.
You already know that decimal are the numbers which represent the fractional part of a number. It is represented by the dot(.) symbol. Placing the decimal point is a very simple task. If we are multiplying the number with 10, 100, 1000 and so on, then the decimal point will shift from left to right. By default the point is in the left if the number is multiplied with 1 followed by the zeros. But if 10, 100, 1000 and so on are in the denominator, then the default place of the point will be right most positions. And it will shift from right to left depending upon the number of zeros in the denominator. Let’s see one example: In $2.106\times 10$, there is one zero with 1. So the decimal will shift from left to right once. It will be 21.06 now. In $\dfrac{311.9}{100}$, the decimal will shift from right to left 2 times as there are 2 zeros in the denominator.
If we talk about %, if it is removed then 100 is placed in the denominator of that number.
Let’s see how this happens!
The number is 39%.
We can remove the percent, then it will become fraction:
$\Rightarrow 39\%\Leftrightarrow \dfrac{39}{100}$
Now as we can observe, there is 100 in the denominator that means if we want to place the decimal now, it will get shifted by 2 places from right to left and by default our decimal point is in the right most position. $\Rightarrow \dfrac{39}{100}\Leftrightarrow 0.39$
So this is the final answer.

Note:
Don’t get confused while shifting the decimal point while multiplying and dividing by 10, 100, 1000 and so on. Remember that the default value of % is $\dfrac{1}{100}$. When we convert decimal to percent, we remove the decimal point and while converting percent to decimal, we place the decimal point. And remember, there is no need to reduce fraction into simplest form.