Convert Percents to Decimals and Fractions

It's very simple to convert a percent to a decimal (and from there, it's easy to convert a decimal to a fraction!)

1. Convert your percent to a decimal (if necessary) by dividing the percent by 100 (shortcut: move the decimal two places to the left-- or away from the percent sign).  Remember, if you do not see a decimal point, it's right behind the last number.  Write it in if it helps you.
2. Remove the percent sign.

Example: 

Turn 35% into a decimal.

$\eqalign{35\% &= 35.\%\\35.\% \div100 &= .35}$

Turn 2.1% into a decimal.

$\eqalign{2.1\% \div100 &= .021}$

If you want a fraction answer, the next step is to turn your decimal into a fraction.

1. Read the decimal aloud, using place value names.
2. Using the place value names, rewrite the decimal as a fraction.  
3. Reduce.

Example:

Turn 35% into a fraction.

$$\eqalign{35\% &= 35.\%\\35.\% \div100 &= .35\\.35&=\text{thirty-five hundredths}\\ \text{thirty-five hundredths} &=\dfrac{35}{100}\\ &= \dfrac{7}{20}}$$