Solution: 42/17 as a percent is 247.059%
Methods
Method 1 – Converting 42/17 Into a Percentage:
In a fraction, the number above the line is called the numerator, and the number below the line is called the denominator. The fraction shows how many “pieces” of the number there are, compared to how many there are possible. For instance, in the fraction 42/17, we could say that there are 42 pieces out of a possible 17 pieces.
“Percent” means “per hundred”, so for percentages we want to know how many pieces there are if there are 100 pieces possible. For example, if we look at the percentage 75%, that means we have 75 pieces of the possible 100. Re-writing this in fraction form, we see 75/100.
When converting the fraction into a percent, the first step is to adjust the fraction so that there will be 100 pieces possible (the denominator needs to be changed to 100). To do this, you first divide 100 by the denominator:
100
17
=
5.882
\frac{100}{17} = 5.882
17 100 = 5.882
We can then adjust the whole fraction using this number, like so:
42
∗
5.882
17
∗
5.882
=
247.059
100
\frac{42*5.882}{17*5.882} = \frac{247.059}{100}
17 ∗ 5.882 42 ∗ 5.882 = 100 247.059
As you can see, there are 247.059 pieces out of a possible 100 pieces. Re-writing this as a percentage, we can see that 42/17 as a percentage is 247.059%.
Method 2 – Converting 42/17 Into a Percentage Using Decimals:
If you already know how to convert a fraction into a decimal, you can also use this method as a step for converting to a percentage. Let’s show you how.
First, convert the fraction into a decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator:
42
17
=
2.471
\frac{42}{17} = 2.471
17 42 = 2.471
If we multiply the decimal by 100, we will get the percentage:
2.471 * 100 = 247.059
Now we can see that 42/17 as a percentage is 247.059.
Try out both methods and see which one works best for you! Some people like to use the first method, while others will prefer to use the decimal method. There is no “best” way to convert fractions into percentages, just choose the method that works for you.
Try some more percentage problems
With a just a few more problems, you could become a pro at converting fractions to percentages. You can try some more right now!
What is 46/73 as a percent?
What is 17/30 as a percent?
What is 29/60 as a percent?
What is 48/55 as a percent?
What is 8/11 as a percent?