Fractions, decimals and percentages

This activity is about converting between fractions, decimals and

percentages.

Information sheet

Converting between decimals and fractions

To change a decimal to a fraction: use the place value of the last digit
÷5

85 17
For example 0.85 = 100 = 20
÷5
hundredths

b
On a calculator press: 85 a c 100 =

To change a fraction to a decimal: divide the top by the bottom

4
For example 5 = 4  5 = 0.8

Converting between percentages and fractions or decimals

To write a % as a fraction or decimal: divide by 100
For example 64% = 64  100 = 0.64
64 16
or 64% = 100 = 25

b
On a calculator press: 64 a c 100 =

To write a decimal or fraction as a %: multiply by 100

For example 0.125 = 0.125  100 = 12.5%

2 2 2
5 = 5  100 (i.e. 5 of 100%) = 40%
2
or 5 = 2  5  100 = 40%

b
On a calculator press: 2 a c 5  100 = 40%

Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 1 of 16
© Nuffield Foundation 2012 ● downloaded from www.fsmq.org
Try these
1 Write these decimals as fractions:

0.3 = …………. 0.5 = …………. 0.6 = …………. 0.02 = ………….

0.05 = …………. 0.25 = …………. 0.36 = …………. 0.125 = ………….

2 Write these fractions as decimals:

7 1 2 3
10 = ………………. 5 = ………………. 5 = ………………. 4 = …………………

7 2 9 7
8 = ………………. 3 = ………………. 20 =………………. 25 = …………………

3 Write these percentages as decimals:

3% = …………. 30% = …………. 25% = …………. 80% = ………….

8% = …………. 12% = …………. 67% = …………. 17.5% = ………….

Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 2 of 16
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4 Write these percentages as fractions:

20% = …………. 75% = …………. 5% = …………. 30% = ………….

40% = …………. 15% = …………. 24% = …………. 35% = ………….

5 Write these decimals as percentages:

0.25 = …………. 0.5 = …………. 0.7 = …………. 0.07 = ………….

0.45 = …………. 0.09 = …………. 0.4 = …………. 0.375 = ………….

6 Write these fractions as percentages:

1 1 9 3
10 = …………. 5 = …………. 10 = …………. 4 = ………….

4 17 1 2
5 = …………. 20 = …………. 3 = …………. 3 = ………….

Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 3 of 16
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Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 4 of 16
© Nuffield Foundation 2012 ● downloaded from www.fsmq.org
At the end of the activity
Explain how to convert ...
• a decimal to a fraction
• a fraction to a decimal
• a percentage to a fraction or decimal
• a fraction or decimal to a percentage.

Give some examples of real contexts where ...

• decimals are used
• fractions are used
• percentages are used.

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Fractions, decimals and percentages

Fractions to decimals to percentages

Complete this table.

Fraction Decimal Percentage

1
10
1
5
3
10
2
5
1
2
3
5
7
10
4
5
9
10
1
4
3
4

Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 6 of 16
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Fill the gaps in the table.

Percentage Fraction Decimal

10%

0.2

3
10

40%

0.5

3
5

70%

0.8

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 9
10

25%

3
4

Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 8 of 16
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 Follow me – fractions to percentages Set A

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

100% ? 50% ? 20% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

75% ? 10% ? 25% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

30% ? 40% ? 70% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

80% ? 60% ? 90% 1?

Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 9 of 16
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 Follow me – fractions to percentages Set B

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

100% ? 50% ? 20% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

75% ? 10% ? 25% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

30% ? 40% ? 70% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

80% ? 60% ? 90% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

55% ? 6% ? 33% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

56% ? 62% ? 95% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

74% ? 37% ? 8% ?

Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 10 of 16
© Nuffield Foundation 2012 ● downloaded from www.fsmq.org
I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is
35% ? 66% ? 12% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

22% ? 5% ? 72% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

87% ? 4% ? 34% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

42% ? 52% ? 45% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

58% ? 64% ? 32% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

2% ? 92% ? 98% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

44% ? 82% ? 65% ?

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© Nuffield Foundation 2012 ● downloaded from www.fsmq.org
I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is
14% ? 88% ? 62% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

85% ? 16% ? 46% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

84% ? 78% ? 15% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

26% ? 24% ? 86% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

76% ? 12% ? 18% ?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

36% ? 54% ? 68% 1?

Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 12 of 16
© Nuffield Foundation 2012 ● downloaded from www.fsmq.org
 Follow me – percentages to fractions Set C

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

1 50%? 20%? 75%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

10%? 25% ? 30%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

40%? 70%? 80%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

60%? 90%? 100%?

Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 13 of 16
© Nuffield Foundation 2012 ● downloaded from www.fsmq.org
 Follow me – percentages to fractions Set D

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

1 50%? 20%? 75%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

10%? 25%? 30%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

40%? 70%? 80%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

60%? 90%? 55%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

6%? 33%? 56%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

63%? 95%? 74%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

37%? 8%? 35%?
Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 14 of 16
© Nuffield Foundation 2012 ● downloaded from www.fsmq.org
I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is
67%? 13%? 22%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

5%? 72%? 87%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

4%? 34%? 42%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

52%? 45%? 58%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

64%? 32%? 2%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

92%? 98%? 44%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

82%? 65%? 14%?

Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 15 of 16
© Nuffield Foundation 2012 ● downloaded from www.fsmq.org
I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is
88%? 62%? 85%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

16%? 46%? 84%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

78%? 15%? 26%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

24%? 86%? 76%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

12%? 18%? 36%?

I am Who is I am Who is I am Who is

54%? 68%? 100%?

Nuffield Free-Standing Mathematics Activity ‘Fractions, decimals and percentages’ Student sheets Copiable page 16 of 16
© Nuffield Foundation 2012 ● downloaded from www.fsmq.org