Write 0.62 as a percentage.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To convert the decimal (0.62) into a percentage, multiply it by (100). This gives:
[
0.62 \times 100 = 62
]
Thus, (0.62) is equivalent to (62\%).
Explanation:
Percentages are a way to express numbers as parts of (100). The term “percent” literally means “per hundred.” For example, (50\%) means (50) out of (100), and (25\%) means (25) out of (100).
Decimals represent a portion of a whole as fractions out of (1). For instance, (0.62) is equivalent to the fraction (\frac{62}{100}), because the (6) is in the tenths place, and the (2) is in the hundredths place. By definition, this fraction already represents a percentage because it is over (100).
To formally convert a decimal to a percentage:
- Multiply the decimal by (100): This shifts the decimal point two places to the right. For (0.62), this step moves the decimal point two spaces, changing it to (62.0).
- Add the percentage symbol ((%)): After multiplying by (100), append the percentage sign to indicate the value as a percentage.
This operation works because multiplying by (100) changes the reference from a whole (out of (1)) to a part out of (100). Essentially, the decimal scale is rescaled to fit the percentage format.
Practical Context:
Understanding percentage conversion is useful in real-world applications such as determining discounts, interpreting statistical data, or calculating grades. For example, if (0.62) represents the portion of a class that passed an exam, (62\%) conveys that (62) out of every (100) students passed.