Question

How do you write $\dfrac{1}{{20}}$ as a percent?

Answer 1

Hint: To convert a fraction into percent, it is always better to look at the denominator first. A percentage is basically just another form of fraction. However, it is written in a specific format where the bottom number (denominator) is 'fixed' at $100$. Here, the $\% $ symbol can be compared to the function of a unit of measurement. Just as a unit of measurement is specific in what it means then so is $\% $. It means $\dfrac{1}{{100}}$. "Percent" or "$\% $" means "out of $100$" or "per $100$". For example, $x\% $ can be written as $\dfrac{x}{{100}}$.

Complete step-by-step answer:
To represent a fraction as a percent: We need to change this in such a way that the actual value is the same but it looks different, and we need to keep in mind that the bottom number (denominator) becomes 100.
According to the given data, we need to write $\dfrac{1}{{20}}$ as a percent.
As we move forward, we can rewrite this as,
$\dfrac{1}{{20}} = \dfrac{x}{{100}}$
$ \Rightarrow \dfrac{1}{{20}} \times 100 = 100 \times \dfrac{x}{{100}}$
$ \Rightarrow x = \dfrac{{100}}{{20}}$
Therefore, we finally get $x = 5$.
Hence, it can be written as, $\dfrac{1}{{20}} = \dfrac{{100}}{{20}} = 5\% $.
This is also same as,
$5 \times \dfrac{1}{{100}} \to 5 \times \% \to 5\% $
Therefore, $\dfrac{1}{{20}}$ can be written as $5\% $.

Note: To convert a fraction into percent, it is always better to look at the denominator first. A percentage is written in a specific format where the bottom number (denominator) is 'fixed' at $100$. "Percent" or "$\% $" means "out of $100$" or "per $100$". For example, $x\% $ can be written as $\dfrac{x}{{100}}$.
To convert the fraction to percent, one needs to just multiply the value $100$ and write $\% $ sign against the result.