Write 5.97 as a percentage.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is 597%.
To understand how we arrive at this answer, it is helpful to first understand the meaning of a percentage. The word “percent” originates from the Latin phrase “per centum,” which translates to “per one hundred.” Therefore, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100. For example, 50% is another way of saying 50 out of 100, or the fraction 50/100.
The number 1.0 represents a complete whole, which is equivalent to 100%. Any decimal number less than 1, such as 0.75, represents a value less than the whole (75%). Conversely, any decimal number greater than 1, like the given 5.97, represents a value that is more than a single whole.
The most direct and fundamental method for converting a decimal into a percentage is to multiply the decimal number by 100. This calculation determines how many “hundredths” are contained within the number. After multiplying, you simply add the percent symbol (%) to indicate the format.
Let’s apply this method to the number 5.97:
5.97 x 100 = 597
Once the multiplication is complete, we add the percent symbol. Thus, the result is 597%.
Another way to visualize this conversion is to move the decimal point two places to the right. Each move to the right is equivalent to multiplying the number by 10. Since we need to multiply by 100 (which is 10 x 10), we move the decimal point twice.
Starting with 5.97:
- Move the decimal one place to the right: 59.7
- Move it a second place to the right: 597.
This gives us the same result. The value 597% signifies a quantity that is nearly six times a whole unit.
