3.8 as a percent and 48.12 as a decimal
3.8 as a percent and 48.12 as a decimal
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answers:
- 3.8 as a percent = 380%
- 48.12 as a decimal = 48.12
Explanation
Converting between decimals and percentages is a fundamental mathematical skill that helps us express numbers in different formats, depending on the context. Let’s examine both conversions one at a time.
1. Converting 3.8 to a Percent:
To convert a decimal to a percent, you multiply the decimal by 100 and add the percent symbol (%). This is because “percent” literally means “per hundred.” 3.8×100=3803.8 \times 100 = 380
So, 3.8 as a percent is 380%.
This might seem unusually large, but percentages over 100% are common in real-life contexts. For example, if a population increases from 1,000 to 4,800, that’s a 380% increase — because it grew by nearly four times the original amount. So, 3.8 as a percent means something is 3.8 times greater than the whole, or 380%.
2. Converting 48.12 to a Decimal:
This one is simpler. 48.12 is already a decimal. Sometimes students get confused because the word “decimal” can also refer to a “decimal point,” but in mathematical terms, a decimal number is any number that includes a decimal point. So if someone asks you to “write 48.12 as a decimal,” the answer is simply: 48.1248.12
No conversion is needed because it is already in decimal form.
Summary:
- 3.8 as a percent = 380%
- 48.12 as a decimal = 48.12
Understanding these conversions is helpful for interpreting data, especially in fields like finance, science, and statistics, where percentages and decimal values are frequently used to measure change, growth, or proportion.
