How to Do Percents, Fractions & Decimal Word Problems
- 1). Solve a word problem requiring the use of fractions, decimals and percentages by first determining what the fraction will be given the information of the problem. Divide the fraction out to form the decimal. Multiply the decimal by 100 to find the percent, following the answer with the percent symbol.
- 2). Use the following word problem for practice: Mr. McGregor's class has 25 students, of which 17 are female. What percentage of the students are female?
- 3). Determine that you need to use the fraction 17/25 because the denominator represents the full amount, and the numerator represents the section. Divide 17/25 using long division or your calculator to get 0.68.
- 4). Multiply 0.68 by 100 to find the percent, noting that multiplying by 100 merely moves the decimal point two places to the right: 0.68 * 100 = 68 percent, meaning that 68 percent of the class is female.
