Decimals and Percents

Decimals and Percents

Decimals
Mathematics in everyday life uses more than whole numbers.
Other numbers, called decimals and fractions, name numbers Some fractions
that are between whole numbers. Decimals and fractions are between 1 and 2:
3 7 11 19
used to name a part of a whole thing or a part of a collection. , , , 
2 4 8 16
We use decimals and fractions to make more precise
Some decimals
measurements than can be made using only whole numbers. between 1 and 2:
You probably see many uses of decimals every day. 1.5, 1.75,
♦ Fractional parts of a dollar are almost always written as decimals. 1.875, 1.9999

♦ Weather reports give rainfall amounts in decimals.

♦ Digital scales in supermarkets show the weight of fruits,
vegetables, and meat with decimals.
♦ Many sports events are timed to a tenth or hundredth of Jim Hines was the first
a second, and the times are reported as decimals. person to complete the
♦ Sports statistics often use decimals. For example, batting 100-meter dash in less
averages and average points scored per game are usually than 10 seconds. His time
reported as decimals. at the 1968 Olympics was
9.95 seconds and his
Decimals are another way to write fractions. Many fractions record stood for 15 years.
have denominators of 10, 100, 1,000, and so on. It is easy to
write the decimal names for fractions like these.

This square is divided into 10 equal This square is divided into 100 equal
1 1
parts. Each part is 10 of the square. parts. Each part is  
100 of the square.
1 1
The decimal name for 10 is 0.1. The decimal name for  
100 is 0.01.

6 62
of the square is shaded.  of the square is shaded.
10 100
6 62
The decimal name for 10 is 0.6. The decimal name for  
100 is 0.62.

Like mixed numbers, decimals are used to

name numbers greater than one.

26 twenty-six
 Decimals and Percents

In a decimal, the dot is called the decimal point. It separates

the whole-number part from the decimal part. A decimal with
one digit after the decimal point names tenths. A decimal with
two digits after the decimal point names hundredths. A decimal
with three digits after the decimal point names thousandths.

tenths hundredths thousandths

5 43 291
0.5  
10 0.43  
100 0.291  
1,000
7 75 3
0.7  
10 0.75  
100 0.003  
1,000
9 8 72
0.9   0.08   0.072  
10 100 1,000 Decimals were invented
by the Dutch scientist
Simon Stevin in 1585.
But there is no single,
Reading Decimals worldwide form for
One way to read a decimal is to say it as you would a writing decimals. For
1
fraction or mixed number. For example, 0.001   
1,000 and can
3.25 (American notation),
9
be read as “one thousandth.” 7.9  71 the British write 3.25,
0 , so 7.9 can be read as
and the Germans and
“seven and nine tenths.”
French write 3,25.
You can also read decimals by first saying the whole-number
part, then saying “point,” and finally saying the digits in the
decimal part. For example, 6.8 can be read as “six point eight”;
0.15 can be read as “zero point one five.” This way of reading
decimals is often useful when there are many digits in
the decimal.

0.26 is read as “26 hundredths” or “zero point two six.”

34.5 is read as “34 and 5 tenths” or “34 point 5.”
0.004 is read as “4 thousandths” or “0 point zero zero four.”

Read each decimal to yourself in two ways.

1. 0.4 2. 1.65 3. 0.872 4. 16.04 5. 0.003 6. 59.061

Check your answers on page 415.

twenty-seven 27
Decimals and Percents

Place Value for Decimals

A place-value chart works the same way for decimals as it does
for whole numbers.

In the number 47.805,

8
8 is in the tenths place; its value is 8 tenths, or , or 0.8.
10
0 is in the hundredths place; its value is 0.
5
5 is in the thousandths place; its value is 5 thousandths, or  , or 0.005.
1,000

Study the place-value chart below. Look at the numbers that

name the places. As you move from right to left along the chart,
each number is 10 times as large as the number to its right.

1 1
one
100  ten  s
1,000 one 10  ten 1s
1 1
one 1
0  ten s
100 one 100  ten 10s
1
one 1  ten  s
10 one 1,000  ten 100s

As you move from left to right along the place-value chart

1
below, each number is 10 as large as the number to its left.

1 1 1
one 100  
10 of 1,000 
one
10  
10 of 1
1 1 1 1
one 10  
10 of 100 one  
100  
10 of 
10
1 1 1 1
one 1  
10 of 10 one  
1,000  
10 of 
100

28 twenty-eight
 Decimals and Percents

Powers of 10
Study this base-ten place-value chart.

Look at the numbers across the top of the chart that name the
places. A whole number that can be written using only 10s as
factors is called a power of 10. A power of 10 can be written
in exponential notation.
Powers of 10 (greater than 1) A number written in the
Standard Notation Product of 10s Exponential Notation usual place-value way, like
10 10 101 100, is in standard
100 10 * 10 102 notation. A number
written with an exponent,
1,000 10 * 10 * 10 103
like 102, is in exponential
10,000 10 * 10 * 10 * 10 104
notation.
100,000 10 * 10 * 10 * 10 * 10 105

Decimals that can be written using only 0.1s as factors are also
called powers of 10. They can be written in exponential notation
with negative exponents. A number raised to a
Powers of 10 (less than 1) negative exponent power
is equal to the fraction
Standard Notation Product of 0.1s Exponential Notation
1 over the number raised
0.1 0.1 101 to the positive exponent
0.01 0.1 * 0.1 102 power. For example,
1
0.001 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.1 103 102   
102
0.0001 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.1 104  1

10 * 10
0.00001 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.1 105 1

100 .

The number 1 is also called a power of 10 because 1  100.

The pattern in the table below shows why mathematicians
define 100 to be equal to 1.
100,000s 10,000s 1,000s 100s 10s 1s 0.1s 0.01s 0.001s 0.0001s 0.00001s
105 4
10 103
10 2
101
100
. 101 102 103 104 105

All the numbers across the top of a place-value chart are

powers of 10.
Note the pattern in the exponents: Each exponent is 1 less than
the exponent in the place to its left.

twenty-nine 29
Decimals and Percents

Comparing Decimals
You may use place value to compare decimals in the same way
you compare whole numbers. Start by comparing digits in the
leftmost place. Continue to the right until the digits in a place Decimals and fractions are
often shown on a number
do not match.
line. For any pair of
numbers on the number
Compare 1.35 and 1.288. Compare 0.5 and 0.105. line, the number to the
left is less than the
1.35 0.5
number to the right.
1.288 0.105
∂ different ∂ different
3 tenths  2 tenths. 5 tenths  1 tenth.

So, 1.35  1.288. So, 0.5  0.105.

You can attach one or more 0s at the end of the decimal part of
a number without changing the value of the number.

1.4  1.40 0.6  0.600 3.09  3.090 14.200  14.20  14.2

Another way to compare decimals is to model them with base-10

blocks. If you don’t have the blocks, draw shorthand pictures.
Base-10 Blocks and Their Shorthand Pictures

cube long flat big cube

Compare 2.3 and 2.16.

2.3 2.16
2 flats and 3 longs are more than 2 flats, 1 long, and 6 cubes.

So, 2.3 is more than 2.16.

2.3  2.16

Compare the numbers in each pair.

5
1. 0.78, 0.079 2. 1.099, 1.1 3. 0.99, 0.10 4. , 1.3
4
Check your answers on page 415.

30 thirty
 Decimals and Percents

Addition and Subtraction of Decimals

There are many ways to add and subtract decimals. One way is
to use base-10 blocks. When working with decimals, we usually
say that the flat is worth 1.
To add with base-10 blocks, count out blocks for each number,
and put all the blocks together. Make any trades for larger
blocks that you can. Then count the blocks for the sum.
To subtract with base-10 blocks, count out blocks for the larger
number. Take away blocks for the smaller number, making
trades as needed. Then count the remaining blocks.
Using base-10 blocks is a good idea, especially at first. However,
drawing shorthand pictures is usually easier and quicker.

1.61  4.7  ?
First, draw pictures for each number. Next, draw a ring around 10 longs and
trade them for 1 flat.

This means that 1.61  4.7  6.31. This makes After the trade,
1 1
sense because 1.61 is near 12 and 4.7 is near 42. there are 6 flats,
So, the answer should be near 6, which it is. 3 longs, and
1 cube.
1.61  4.7  6.31

4.07  2.7  ?

The picture for 4.07 does You want to take away 2.7 Now remove 2 flats and
not show any longs. (2 flats and 7 longs). To do 7 longs (2.7).
this, trade 1 flat for 10 longs.

1 flat, 3 longs, and

7 cubes are left.
4.07  2.7  1.37 These blocks show 1.37.

thirty-one 31
Decimals and Percents

Most paper-and-pencil methods for adding and subtracting

whole numbers also work for decimals. The main difference is
that you have to line up the places correctly, either by attaching
0s to the end of the numbers or by lining up the ones place.

32.5  19.6  ?
10s 1s 0.1s
Partial-Sums Method: 3 2 . 5
 1 9 . 6
Add the tens. 30  10 ∑ 4 0 . 0
Add the ones. 29∑ 1 1 . 0
Add the tenths. 0.5  0.6 ∑ 1 . 1
Add the partial sums. 40.0  11.0  1.1 ∑ 5 2 . 1

10s 1s 0.1s
Column-Addition Method: 3 2 . 5
 1 9 . 6
Add the numbers in each column. ∑ 4 11 . 11
Rename 11 ones and 11 tenths as 12 ones and 1 tenth. ∑ 4 12 . 1
Rename 4 tens and 12 ones as 5 tens and 2 ones. ∑ 5 2 . 1

32.5  19.6  52.1, using either method.

7.4  2.65  ?
Trade-First Method:
Write the problem in columns. Be sure to line up the places correctly.
Since 2.65 has two decimal places, write 7.4 as 7.40.

1s 0.1s 0.01s 1s 0.1s 0.01s 1s 0.1s 0.01s

13
3 10 6 3 10
7 . 4 0 7 . 4 0 7 . 4 0
 2 . 6 5  2 . 6 5  2 . 6 5
4 . 7 5
Look at the 0.01s place. So trade 1 tenth for So trade 1 one for 10
10 hundredths. tenths. Now subtract in
You cannot remove
each column.
5 hundredths from Now look at the 0.1s place.
0 hundredths. You cannot remove 6 tenths
from 3 tenths. 7.4  2.65  4.75

32 thirty-two
 Decimals and Percents

7.4  2.65  ?
The abacus is an ancient
Left-to-Right Subtraction Method: and powerful calculating
Since 2.65 has two decimal places, write 7.4 as 7.40. tool that was probably
invented in the Middle
7.40 East. It can be used to
Subtract the ones.  2.00 add, subtract, multiply,
5.40 and divide both whole
numbers and decimals.
Subtract the tenths.  0.60
4.80
Subtract the hundredths.  0.05
4.75
7.4  2.65  4.75

7.4  2.65  ?

Counting-Up Method:
Since 2.65 has two decimal places, write 7.4 as 7.40.
There are many ways to count up from 2.65 to 7.40. Here is one.

2.65 Add the numbers you

circled and counted up by:
 0.35
3.00 0.35
 4.00 4.00
7.00  0.40
 0.40 4.75
7.40 You counted up by 4.75

7.4  2.65  4.75 A skilled user with an

efficient abacus (like the
Japanese soroban shown
Calculator: above) can calculate almost
If you use a calculator, it’s important to check your answer by as quickly as someone
estimating because it’s easy to press a wrong key accidentally. using a calculator.

Add or subtract.
1. 2.69  7.35 2. 21.5  8.8 3. 7.4  3.082 4. 10  1.79
Check your answers on page 415.

thirty-three 33
Decimals and Percents

Units and Precision in Decimal Addition

and Subtraction
Counts and measures always have units. For addition or
subtraction, all the numbers must have the same unit. If they
do not, before solving the problem you will have to convert at
least one of the numbers so that all units are the same.

Find the perimeter of the triangle.

Method 1
Convert the centimeter measures to millimeters, then add.
6 cm  60 mm 12 cm  120 mm
Perimeter  60 mm  120 mm  85 mm  265 mm
Method 2
Convert the millimeter measure to centimeters, then add.
85 mm  8.5 cm
Perimeter  6 cm  12 cm  8.5 cm  26.5 cm

In most practical situations, all measures have the same degree

of precision. If some measures are more precise than others,
convert them so that they have the same precision as the least
precise measure.

The winning times in the men’s Year Winner Time

100-meter dash in the 1936 and 1936 Jesse Owens, U.S.A. 10.3 seconds
1988 Olympic Games are shown 1988 Carl Lewis, U.S.A. 9.92 seconds
at the right.
How much faster did Carl Lewis run than Jesse Owens?
Carl Lewis was timed to the nearest hundredth of a second.
Jesse Owens was timed to the nearest tenth of a second.
Round the more precise measure, 9.92 seconds, to match the less precise measure,
10.3 seconds. 9.92 seconds rounded to the nearest tenth of a second is 9.9 seconds.
Since 10.3  9.9  0.4, Carl Lewis ran the 100-meter dash about 0.4
second faster than Jesse Owens.

1. Which measurement is less precise: 4.7 meters or 3.62 meters?

2. Solve. Use the degree of precision of the less precise measure.
a. 4.7 m  3.62 m b. 5.765 sec  5.73 sec
Check your answers on page 415.

34 thirty-four
 Decimals and Percents

Multiplying by Powers of 10
These are some powers of 10.
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
10 * 10 * 10 * 10 10 * 10 * 10 10 * 10 10 1 .   *   *  *   *  *  * 
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
10,000 1,000 100 10 1 . 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001

Multiplying decimals by a power of 10 that is greater than 1 is

easy. One way is to use partial-products multiplication.

Solve 1,000 * 45.6 by partial-products multiplication.

Step 1: Solve the problem as if there were no decimal point. 1000
Step 2: To place the decimal point where it belongs, * 456
estimate the answer to 1,000 * 45.6. 400 * 1000 → 400000
1,000 * 45  45,000, so 1,000 * 45.6 must 50 * 1000 → 50000
be near 45,000. 6 * 1000 → 6000
So, the answer to 1,000 * 45.6 is 45,600. 456000

Here is another method. This works for any power of 10.

1,000 * 45.6  ? 0.001 * 45.6  ?

Step 1: Locate the decimal point 1,000  1000. 0.001

in the power of 10.
Step 2: Move the decimal point
LEFT or RIGHT until it is .
right of the number 1.
Step 3: Count the number of 3 places to the left 3 places to the right
places you moved the
decimal point.
† Step 4: Move the decimal point in
the other factor the same
number of places but in the
OPPOSITE direction. Insert
0s as needed.
1,000 * 45.6  45,600 0.001 * 45.6  0.0456

† To decide whether to move the decimal point to the right or

left, think: “Should the answer be greater than or less than the
decimal I started with?” If the answer should be greater, move
the decimal point to the right. If the answer should be less,
move the decimal point to the left.

thirty-five 35
Decimals and Percents

Some Powers of 10
104 103 102 101 100 . 101 102 103 104
10,000 1,000 100 10 1 . 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001

Here is another method for multiplying by a power of 10.

1,000 * 45.6  ? 0.001 * 45.6  ?

Step 1: Think of the power of 10 1,000  103 0.001  103

in exponential notation.
Step 2: Note the number in 103 103
∂ ∂
the exponent.
† Step 3: If the exponent is POSITIVE,
move the decimal point in
the other factor that number
of places to the RIGHT.
Insert 0s as needed.
If the exponent is NEGATIVE,
move the decimal point in
the other factor that number
of places to the LEFT. Insert
0s as needed.
1,000 * 45.6  45,600 0.001 * 45.6  0.0456

† To decide whether to move the decimal point to the right or

left, think: “Should the answer be greater than or less than the
decimal I started with?” If the answer should be greater, move
the decimal point to the right. If the answer should be less,
move the decimal point to the left.

Multiply.

1. 100 * 4.56 2. 0.01 * 4.56 3. 0.26 * 10,000 4. 4.07 * 0.1

5. 0.44 * 0.001 6. 1,000 * $7.50 7. 1.01 * 10 8. 0.01 * 45.3

Check your answers on page 415.

36 thirty-six
 Decimals and Percents

Multiplication of Decimals
You can use the same procedures for multiplying decimals as
you use for whole numbers. The main difference is that with
decimals you have to decide where to place the decimal point in A magnitude estimate
is a very rough estimate
the product.
that answers questions
Here is one way to multiply with decimals. like: Is the solution in the
ones? Tens? Hundreds?
Step 1: Make a magnitude estimate of the product. Thousands?
Step 2: Multiply the factors as if they were whole numbers,
ignoring any decimal points. Use a multiplication
method you would use for whole numbers. The answer
will be a whole number.
Step 3: Use your estimate of the product from Step 1 to place
the decimal point in the answer.

16.3 * 4.7  ?
Step 1: Estimate the product.
Round 16.3 to 16 and 4.7 to 5.
Since 16 * 5  80, the product will be in the tens.
(In the tens means between 10 and 100.)
Step 2: Multiply. Ignore the decimal points. In 1674, Gottfried Leibniz
invented one of the first
163 mechanical calculating
∗ 47 machines that could
multiply numbers. None
40 * 100 → 4000
of these machines have
40 * 60 → 2400 survived. The photograph
40 * 3 → 120 below shows a
7 * 100 → 700 reproduction that was
built using Leibniz’s plans.
7 * 60 → 420
7*3 →  21
7661
Step 3: Use the estimate to place the
decimal point in the product.
Since the magnitude estimate is in the tens,
the product must be in the tens. Place the
decimal point between the 6s in 7661.

So, 16.3 * 4.7  76.61.

thirty-seven 37
Decimals and Percents

3.27 * 0.8  ?
A magnitude estimate
Step 1: Make a magnitude estimate. may be on the “borderline”
Round 3.27 to 3 and 0.8 to 1. and you need to be
Since 3 * 1  3, the product will be in the ones. more careful.
(In the ones means between 1 and 10.)
For example, a magnitude
Step 2: Multiply as you would with whole numbers. estimate for 3.4 * 3.4 is
Ignore the decimal points. 327 * 8  2616 3 * 3  9. This estimate
Step 3: Place the decimal point correctly in the answer. is “in the 1s.” But 9 is
close to 10, so that the
Since the magnitude estimate is in the ones, the
exact answer may be
product must be in the ones. Place the decimal
“in the 10s.” You should
point between the 2 and the 6 in 2616.
place the decimal point
so that the answer is
So, 3.27 * 0.8  2.616.
close to 10.
Since 34 * 34  1156,
There is another way to find where to place the decimal point in the exact answer must be
the product. This method is especially useful when the factors 3.4 * 3.4  11.56.
are less than 1 and have many decimal places.

0.05 * 0.0062  ?

Step 1: Count the decimal places to the right 2 decimal places in 0.05
of the decimal point in each factor. 4 decimal places in 0.0062
Step 2: Add the number of decimal places. 246
Step 3: Multiply the factors as if they 5 * 62  310
were whole numbers.
Step 4: Start at the right of the product. Move the
decimal point LEFT by the number of
decimal places found in Step 2.
Note that when these two numbers are multiplied as if they were
whole numbers, there are only 3 digits in the product (5 * 62  310).
It is necessary to insert 3 zeros in front of 310 in order to move the
decimal point 6 times.

0.05 * 0.0062  0.000310

Multiply.

1. 2.8 * 4.6 2. 3.05 * 6.5 3. 0.52 * 3.03 4. 0.2 * 0.022

Check your answers on page 415.

38 thirty-eight
 Decimals and Percents

Lattice Multiplication with Decimals

Lattice multiplication can be used to multiply decimals.

Find 45.5 * 3.06 using lattice multiplication. 4 5 5

1 1 1
Step 1: Estimate the answer. 45.5 * 3.06  45 * 3  135 3
2 5 5
(The symbol  means is about equal to.)
0 0 0
Step 2: Draw the lattice and write the factors, including the decimal 0
points, at the top and right side. In the factor above the 0 0 0
grid, the decimal point should be above a column line. In 2 3 3
6
the factor on the right side of the grid, the decimal point 4 0 0
should be to the right of a row line.
Step 3: Find the products inside the lattice.
Steps 1–3
Step 4: Add along the diagonals, moving from right to left.
4 5 5
Step 5: Locate the decimal point in the answer as follows. Slide the 1 1 11
decimal point in the factor above the grid down along the 3
column line. Slide the decimal point in the factor on the 1 2 5 5
right side of the grid across the row line. When the decimal 0 0 0
points meet, slide the decimal point down along the 0
3 0 0 0
diagonal line. Write a decimal point at the end of the
2 3 3
diagonal line. 6
Step 6: Compare the result with the estimate from Step 1. 9 4 0 0
2 3 0
The product, 139.230, is very close to the estimate of 135. Steps 4 – 6

Find 84.5 * 11.6 using 8 4 5

lattice multiplication. 0 0 1 2
0
1 The lattice method of
A good magnitude estimate is 0 8 4 51 multiplication was used
84.5 * 11.6  85 * 10  850. 0 0 0 by Persian scholars as
The answer to 84.5 * 11.6 should 1
9 8 4 5 long ago as the year
be near 850 (in the hundreds). 1010. It was often called
4 2 3
6 the “grating” method.
The product, 980.20, and the 8 8 4 0
magnitude estimate, 850 are 0 2 0
both in the hundreds.

Draw a lattice for each problem and multiply.

1. 16.5 * 4.5 2. 4.03 * 17 3. 8.3 * 34.1
Check your answers on page 416.

thirty-nine 39
Decimals and Percents

Dividing by Powers of 10
Some Powers of 10
104 103 102 101 100 . 101 102 103 104
10,000 1,000 100 10 1 . 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001

Dividing by a power of 10 is easy. Here is one method.

45.6 / 1,000  ? 45.6 / 0.001  ?

Step 1: Locate the decimal point 1,000  1000. 0.001

in the power of 10. ∂ ∂
Step 2: Move the decimal point
LEFT or RIGHT until it is
right of the number 1.
Step 3: Count the number of 3 places to the left 3 places to the right
places you moved the
decimal point.
† Step 4: Move the decimal point
in the other factor the
same number of places
and in the SAME direction.
Insert 0s as needed.
45.6 / 1,000  0.0456 45.6 / 0.001  45,600

† To decide whether to move the decimal point to the right or

left, think: “Should the answer be greater than or less than the
decimal I started with?” If the answer should be greater, move
the decimal point to the right. If the answer should be less,
move the decimal point to the left.

Divide.

1. 79.8 / 10 2. 79.8 / 0.1 3. 0.78 / 100 4. $360 / 1,000

5. 6.93 / 0.001 6. 80 / 10,000 7. 26.5 / 0.01 8. 0.03 / 0.001

Check your answers on page 416.

40 forty
 Decimals and Percents

Here is another method for dividing by a power of 10.

45.6 / 1,000  ? 45.6 / 0.001  ?

Step 1: Think of the power of 10 1,000  103 0.001  103

in exponential notation.
Step 2: Note the number in 103 103
∂ ∂
the exponent.
† Step 3: If the exponent is POSITIVE,
move the decimal point in
the other factor that number
of places to the LEFT.
Insert 0s as needed.
If the exponent is NEGATIVE,
move the decimal point in
the other factor that number
of places to the RIGHT.
Insert 0s as needed.
45.6 / 1,000  0.0456 45.6 / 0.001  45,600

† To decide whether to move the decimal point to the right or

left, think: “Should the answer be greater than or less than the
decimal I started with?” If the answer should be greater, move The slide rule was
the decimal point to the right. If the answer should be less, invented around
move the decimal point to the left. 1620–1630 by William
Oughtred. It may be
used to multiply and
divide numbers. For
most problems, it will
Divide. give 3-digit answers that
are accurate. But the user
1. 34.5 / 10 2. 34.5 / 0.1 3. 0.13 / 100
must make a magnitude
4. $760 / 1,000 5. 8.25 / 0.001 6. 50 / 10,000 estimate to place the
decimal point correctly
7. 62.5 / 0.01 8. 0.01 / 0.001 9. 0.001 / 0.01 in the answer.
Check your answers on page 416.

forty-one 41
Decimals and Percents

Division of Decimals
The method that is used to divide whole numbers may also be
used to divide decimals. However, you must estimate the
quotient in order to place the decimal point in the answer. dividend / divisor  quotient
Step 1: Estimate the quotient.
Step 2: Ignore any decimal points. Divide as if the divisor and
dividend were whole numbers.
Step 3: Use your estimate from Step 1 to place the decimal
point in the quotient correctly.

97.24 / 23  ?
People sometimes
Step 1: Estimate the quotient.
believe that “division
97.24 is about 100, and 23 is about 25. makes numbers smaller”
100 / 25  4, so 97.24 / 23 should be about 4. and “multiplication makes
Step 2: Divide, ignoring the decimal point. numbers larger.” This is
true when you multiply
If there is a remainder, rewrite the remainder as a or divide by numbers
fraction. Then round the answer to the nearest greater than 1. But it is not
whole number. true when you multiply or
divide by numbers between
7
2392
4
 0 and 1.
 9200 400
• When a positive number
524 n is multiplied by a
 460 20 number that is less than
64 1, the product is smaller
 46 2 than n. For example,
18 422 8 * 0.5  4.
18 • When a positive number
9724 / 23  422  23
 423
n is divided by a number
Step 3: Use the estimate from Step 1 to place the decimal point.
between 0 and 1, the
Since the estimate is that the quotient should quotient will be greater
be about 4, the decimal point should be placed than n. For example,
between the 4 and the 2 in 423. 8 / 0.5  16.
So, 97.24 / 23  4.23.

Divide.

1. 148.8 / 6 2. 23.21 11 3. 43.4 / 7 4. 666.6 15

Check your answers on page 416.

42 forty-two
 Decimals and Percents

You can use the same method when dividing by a decimal.

8.25 / 0.3  ?

Step 1: Estimate the quotient.

1
8.25 is about 8 and 0.3 is about 3.
1
So, 8.25 / 0.3 is about the same as 8 / 3.
1
Think: How many many 3s are in 8? If each of
8 pieces is divided into thirds, there will be 24 pieces.
1
So 8 / 3  24. And 8.25 / 0.3 should be about 24.
2
385

Step 2: Divide, ignoring the decimal points.  600 200
225
Step 3: Use the estimate from Step 1 to place the decimal point.  210 70
Since the estimate was about 24, place the decimal 15
point between the 7 and the 5 in 275.  15 5
0 275
So, 8.25 / 0.3  27.5. 825 / 3  275

To rename a fraction as a decimal, you can divide the

numerator by the denominator.

3
Rename  as a decimal.
4
Fractions can be used to
Step 1: Estimate the quotient. It must be less show division problems.
1
than 1 but greater than 2. 3
For example, 4 is another
Step 2: Rewrite 3 as 3.00, and divide 3.00 / 4. way to write 3 4.
So one way to rename
Step 3: Divide, ignoring the decimal point. 0
43 0
 3 as a decimal is
4
 200 50 to divide 3 by 4.
Step 4: Use the estimate from Step 1
100
to place the decimal point
in the quotient. The quotient  100 25
must be 0.75. 0 75
300 / 4  75
So, 3  0.75.
4

Divide.

1. 8.4 / 2.1 2. 6.72 / 2.1 3. 47.3 / 0.1 4. 3 / 8

Check your answers on page 416.

forty-three 43
Decimals and Percents

Division with Many Decimal Places

Sometimes division problems involve decimals with many
decimal places. Estimating the quotient is difficult. In such
cases, find an equivalent division problem that is easier to solve. Fractions can be used to
show division problems.
Step 1: Think about the division problem as a fraction. a
The fraction  is another
b
Step 2: Use the multiplication rule to find an equivalent way of saying a divided
fraction with no decimals. by b, a b, or a / b.

Step 3: Think of this equivalent fraction as a division problem.

Step 4: Solve the equivalent problem using partial-quotients
division or another method.
The answer to the original problem is the same as the answer to
the equivalent problem.

2.05 / 0.004  ?
Step 1: Think of the division problem as a fraction.
2.05
2.05 / 0.004  
0.004
Step 2: Find an equivalent fraction with no decimals.
2.05 * 1,000 2,050
 
0.004 * 1,000  
4
Step 3: Think of this equivalent fraction as a
division problem.
2,050

4  2,050 / 4
Step 4: Solve the equivalent problem.

,0
4250
 2,000 500
50
 48 12
2 512
2,050 / 4  512 2
  512 1  512.5
4 2

2.05 2,050
Since the two fractions,  and  , are equivalent, the
0.004 4
answer to 2.05 / 0.004 is the same as the answer to 2,050 / 4.
So, 2.05 / 0.004  512.5.

44 forty-four
 Decimals and Percents

Column Division with Decimal Quotients

Column division can be used to find quotients that have a
decimal part. Think of sharing $50 equally among 8 people.

0
85?

1. Set the problem up. Draw a line to 2. The 5 $10 bills can’t be equally shared
separate the digits in the dividend. by 8 people. Trade them for 50 $1 bills.
Work left to right. Think of the 5 in Think of the 0 in the ones column as 0
the tens column as 5 $10 bills. $1 bills. There are 50  0, or 50 $1 bills.

8) 5 0 8) 5 0
50
3. If 8 people share 50 $1 bills, each 4. Draw a line and make decimal points to
person gets 6 $1 bills. There are show amounts less than $1. Write 0 after
2 $1 bills left over. the decimal point in the dividend to
show there are 0 dimes. Then trade the
6 2 $1 bills for 20 dimes.
8) 5 0
50 6 .
48 8) 5 0 . 0
2 50 20
48
2
5. If 8 people share 20 dimes, each person 6. Trade the 4 dimes for 40 pennies.
gets 2 dimes. There are 4 dimes left over.
Draw another line and write another 0
6 . 2
in the dividend to show pennies. 8) 5 0 0 . 0
6 2 . 50 20 40
8) 5 0 0 . 0 48 16
50 20 2 4
48 16
2 4

7. If 8 people share 40 pennies, each The column division shows that

person gets 5 pennies. 50 / 8  6.25.
6 2 . 5 This means that $50 shared equally
8) 5 0 0 . 0 among 8 people is $6.25 each.
50 20 40
48 16 40
2 4 0

forty -five 45
Decimals and Percents

Rounding Decimals
Sometimes numbers have more digits than you need. Rounding
is a way of adjusting numbers to get rid of unnecessary digits.
Rounding also helps in making estimates because it makes
numbers easier to use.
Here is one way to round decimals.
Step 1: Find the digit in the place you are rounding to.
Step 2: Rewrite the number, replacing all digits to the right
of this digit with zeros. This is the lower number.
Step 3: Add 1 to the digit in the place you are rounding to. If
the sum is 10, write 0 and add 1 to the digit to its left.
This is the higher number.
Step 4: Ask, “Is the number I am rounding closer to the lower
number or to the higher number?”
Step 5: Round to the closer of the two numbers. If it is
halfway between the higher and the lower number,
round to the higher number. Drop any 0s that are to
the right of the decimal point AND to the right of the
place you are rounding to.

Round the decimals to the nearest place.

2.851 8.35 2.891

(nearest tenth) (nearest tenth) (nearest hundredth)
Step 1: Find the place to which you are rounding. 2.851 8.35 2.891

Step 2: Find the lower number. 2.800 8.30 2.890

Step 3: Find the higher number. 2.900 8.40 2.900

Step 4: Is it closer to the lower or higher number? higher halfway lower

Step 5: Round to the closer number. 2.900  2.9 8.40  8.4 2.890  2.89

Round the numbers below to the nearest tenth, hundredth, and thousandth.

1. 4.6737 2. 8.3096 3. 0.0529 4. 0.0016

Check your answers on page 416.

46 forty-six
 Decimals and Percents

Percents
A percent is another way to name a fraction or decimal.
Percent means per hundred or out of a hundred. So 1% has
the same meaning as the fraction ᎏ
1
ᎏ The word percent comes
100 and the decimal 0.01.
40 from the Latin per centum:
And 40% has the same meaning as ᎏᎏ and 0.40.
100 Per means for and centum
The statement “40% of students were absent” means that 40 out means one hundred.
of 100 students were absent. This does not mean that there were
exactly 100 students and that 40 of them were absent. It does
mean that for every 100 students, 40 students were absent.
A percent usually represents a percent of something. The
“something” is the whole (or ONE, or 100%). In the statement,
“40% of the students were absent,” the whole is the total
number of students enrolled in the school.

There are 350 students enrolled in Clissold School. One day, 40% of the
students were absent. How many students were absent that day?
Think: 350 ⫽ 100 ⫹ 100 ⫹ 100 ⫹ 50
For every 100 students, 40 were absent.
1
So, for every 50 students (ᎏ2ᎏ of 100),
1
20 were absent (ᎏ2ᎏ of 40).
40 ⫹ 40 ⫹ 40 ⫹ 20 ⫽ 140 students were absent that day.

Percents are used in many ways in everyday life:

♦ Business: “75% off” means that the price of an item SALE – 75% OFF
will be reduced by 75 cents for every 100 cents the Everything Must Go
item usually costs.
♦ Statistics: “45% voter turnout” means that 45 out
of every 100 registered voters actually voted.
♦ School: A 90% score on a spelling test means that
a student scored 90 out of 100 possible points for
that test. One way to score 90% is to spell 90 words
correctly out of 100. Another way to score 90% is
to spell 9 words correctly out of 10.
♦ Probability: A “20% chance of snow” means that for
every 100 days that have similar weather conditions,
you would expect it to snow on 20 of the days.

forty-seven 47
Decimals and Percents

Fractions, Decimals, and Percents

Percents may be used to rename both fractions and decimals.
Percents are another way of naming fractions with a
In recent years, about
denominator of 100.
28% of people over 25
50 years old have graduated
You can think of the fraction  
100 as 50 parts per
hundred, or 50 out of 100, and write 50%. from college. In 1950,
only about 6% of people
1 1 * 25 25
You can rename the fraction  as  , or , or 25%. over 25 had graduated
4 4 * 25 100
20 1
, or .
from college.
20% can be written as 100 5
Percents are another way of naming decimals in terms
of hundredths.
1
Since 0.01 can be written as , you can think of
100
0.01 as 1%.
62
And you can think of 0.62 as  , or 62%.
100
47% means 47 hundredths, or 0.47.
Percents can also be used to name the whole.
100
100 out of 100 can be written as the fraction  
100 , or
100 hundredths. This is the same as 1 whole, or 100%.

65 90
65%  
100  0.65 90%  
100  0.9

300 62.5
300%  
100 3 62.5%  
100  0.625

3
The amounts shown in the pictures below can be written as 4, or 75%, or 0.75.
3 3 * 25 75

4   
4 * 25  
100
75 75
But   0.75. And   75%.
100 100

3 75
So, 4 and  
100 and 0.75
and 75% all name the
same amount. 3
  75%  0.75
4

48 forty-eight
 Decimals and Percents

Finding a Percent of a Number

Finding a percent of a number is a basic problem that comes up
Some “easy”
over and over again. For example: fractions
♦ A backpack that regularly sells for $70 is on sale for 30% off. and percents
What is the sale price? 1
  50
  50%
♦ The sales tax on food is 5%. What is the tax on $90 worth 2 100

of groceries?
1

4  25

100  25%
♦ A borrower pays 10% interest on a car loan. If the loan is 3

4  75

100  75%
$8,000, how much is the interest?
1

5  20

100  20%
There are many ways to find the percent of a number.
2

5  40

100  40%
Use a Fraction
Some percents are equivalent to “easy” fractions. For example,
3

5  60

100  60%
25 1
25% is the same as   
100 , or 4 . It is usually easier to find 25% of 4
  80
  80%
1 5 100
a number by thinking of 25% as 4.
1

10  10

100  10%
What is 25% of 64? 3
  30
  30%
10 100
1
Think: 25%  , so 25% of 64
4
1
7

10  70

100  70%
is the same as  of 64.
4
Divide 64 into 4 equal groups.
9

10  90

100  90%
1
Each group is 4 of 64, and each group has 16.
So, 25% of 64 is 16.

Use Decimal Multiplication

1
Finding a percent of a number is the same as multiplying the 1% of 55 means  * 55
100
or 0.01 * 55.
number by the percent. Usually, it’s easiest to change the
9
percent to a decimal and use a calculator. 9% of 55 means  * 55
100
or 0.09 * 55.
35
What is 35% of 65? 35% of 55 means 
100 * 55
or 0.35 * 55.
35% of 65 is the same as 0.35 * 65.
Using a calulator, we find 0.35 * 65  22.75. The word “of” in
problems like these
So, 35% of 65 is 22.75. means multiplication.

Solve.
1. The sales tax on food is 4%. What is 2. A backpack that regularly sells for $55
the tax on $85 worth of groceries? is on sale for 25% off. What is the
savings? What is the sale price?
Check your answers on page 416.

forty-nine 49
Decimals and Percents

Unit Percents
1
Unit percent is another name for 1%. And 1% ⫽ ᎏᎏ
100 ⫽ 0.01.
Finding a Percent of a Number

What is 7% of 400?
1% ⫽
1
ᎏᎏ , so 1% of 400 is the same as
1
ᎏᎏ of 400. The Congress of the
100 100
United States passed the
If you divide 400 into 100 equal groups, there are 4 in each group. first income tax law in
So, 1% of 400 is 4. Then 7% of 400 is 7 * 4, or 28. 1862. If a person’s
income was between
So, 7% of 400 ⫽ 28. $800 and $10,000, the
tax was 3% of his or her
Sometimes it is helpful to find 10% first. income. Those with
incomes greater than
$10,000 paid taxes at
What is 30% of 70? a higher rate.
10
10% ⫽ ᎏᎏ
100 ⫽ ᎏ11ᎏ0 . 10% of 70 is ᎏ11ᎏ0 of 70.
If you divide 70 into 10 equal groups, each group has 7.
So, 10% of 70 is 7. Then 30% of 70 is 3 * 7, or 21.
So, 30% of 70 ⫽ 21.

Finding the Whole

Unit percents are used in solving problems in which part of the
whole is given as a percent and you need to find the whole.

Ms. Partee spends $1,000 a month. $1,000 is 80% of her monthly

earnings. How much does she earn per month?
Step 1: Find 1% of her monthly earnings.
$1,000 is 80% of her monthly earnings. Therefore, to find 1% of her earnings, divide
$1,000 by 80. $1,000 / 80 ⫽ $12.50
So, $12.50 is 1% of her monthly earnings.
Step 2: Find her total monthly earnings. To find her total monthly earnings (or 100%
of her monthly earnings), multiply $12.50 by 100. $12.50 * 100 ⫽ $1,250
So, Ms. Partee earns $1,250 per month.

All bicycles at Art’s Cycle Shop are on sale at 60% of the regular price. If the sale
price of a bicycle is $150, how much did the bicycle cost before it was put on sale?
Check your answer on page 416.

50 fifty
 Decimals and Percents

Using Proportions to Solve

Percent Problems
Many percent problems can be solved using proportions. Using
proportions is not always the best approach, but it almost
always works.
To solve a percent problem with proportions, start with this
number model:
part percent
whole  100
Often you can find two of the three unknowns in this number
model right away, usually just by reading the problem. Then
you can use what you know about solving proportions to find
the third unknown.

Finding the Percent

Jennifer Azzi made 30 of 58 three-point shots in

the 1999 WNBA season. What was her three-point
shooting percentage?
Step 1: Write a proportion. Find two of the
three unknowns by reading the problem.
part percent
whole
 100
shots made shooting percentage
shots attempted
 100
30 shooting percentage
58
 100

Step 2: Find the cross products and set them equal.

x a
shooting percentage ∗ 58  30 ∗ 100 If y  b is a proportion,
then the cross products
Step 3: Solve the equation. Divide both sides by 58. are equal.
shooting percentage ∗ 58 / 58  30 ∗ 100 / 58
That is,
shooting percentage  30 ∗ 100 / 58  51.7 x * b  a * y.
So, Azzi made 51.7% of her three-point shots.

You can also use the three steps shown above to solve percent
problems in which you have to find the whole or the part. You
will find examples of these problems on the following page.

fifty-one 51
Decimals and Percents

Finding the Whole

Regina bought a CD on sale for $9. This was

25% off the everyday price. What was the
everyday price for the CD?
Since Regina got 25% off, she paid only 75% of the
everyday price.
part percent
  
whole 100
sale price percent paid
  
everyday price 100
$9 75
   
everyday price 100

everyday price * 75  $9 * 100 (Cross products are equal.)

everyday price * 75 / 75  $9 * 100 / 75
everyday price  $9 * 100 / 75  $12

So, the everyday price of the CD was $12.

Finding the Part

Dana Barros made 40% of his 160 three-point

attempts in the 19981999 NBA season. How
many three-point shots did he make?
part percent
  
whole 100
shots made shooting percentage
  
shots attempted 100
shots made 40
   
160 100

shots made * 100  160 * 40 (Cross products are equal.)

shots made * 100 / 100  160 * 40 / 100
shots made  160 * 40 / 100  64

So, Barros made 64 three-point shots.

Use proportions to solve these problems.

1. A dress is on sale for 20% off. 2. Ukari Figgs’s free-throw shooting

The everyday price is $55. percentage for the 1999 WNBA
What is the sale price? season was 87.5%. She attempted 24
free throws. How many did she make?
Check your answers on page 416.

52 fifty-two
 Decimals and Percents

Renaming Fractions as Decimals

Any fraction can always be renamed as a decimal. Sometimes
the decimal will end after a certain number of places. Decimals
that end are called terminating decimals. Sometimes the
decimal will have one or more digits that repeat in a pattern
forever. Decimals that repeat in this way are called repeating
1
decimals. The fraction 2 is equal to the terminating decimal
2
0.5. The fraction 3 is equal to the repeating decimal 0.6666.…
One way to rename a fraction as a decimal is to remember
1 3 1
the decimal name: 2  0.5, 4  0.75, 8  0.125, and so on.
If you have memorized the decimal names for a few common
fractions, then logical thinking can help you to rename many
other common fractions as decimals. For example, if you know
1 3
  0.125, then   0.125  0.125  0.125  0.375.
8 8
You can also find decimal names for fractions by using
equivalent fractions, the Fraction-Stick Chart, division,
or a calculator.
Using Equivalent Fractions
One way to rename a fraction as a decimal is to find an
equivalent fraction with a denominator that is a power of
10, such as 10, 100, or 1,000. This method only works for
some fractions.

3
Rename  as a decimal.
5

The solid lines divide the square into 5 equal parts.

1 3
Each part is 5 of the square. 5 of the square is shaded.
The dashed lines divide each fifth into 2 equal parts.
1
Each part is 10, or 0.1, of the square.
6
, or 0.6, of the square is shaded.
10
3 6

5  
10  0.6

Rename these fractions as decimals.

3 2 3 11 3
1.  2.  3.  4. 2 5. 
4 5 2 0 25
Check your answers on page 416.

fifty-three 53
Decimals and Percents

Using the Fraction-Stick Chart

The Fraction-Stick Chart below, and also on page 373, can be
used to rename fractions as decimals. Note that the result is
usually only an approximation. You can use division or a
calculator to obtain better approximations.

2
Rename  as a decimal.
3

1. Locate 23 on the “thirds” stick.

2. Place one edge of a straightedge at 23.
3. Find where the straightedge crosses the number line.
The straightedge crosses the number line between 0.66 and 0.67.
2
So,  is equal to about 0.66 or 0.67.
3

Use the Fraction-Stick Chart to find an approximate decimal name for each
fraction or mixed number.
7 5 1 9 4 3
1.  2.  3. 33 4.  5. 19 6. 
10 8 12 7
Check your answers on page 416.

54 fifty-four
 Decimals and Percents

Using Division
The following examples illustrate how to rename a fraction as a
decimal by dividing its numerator by its denominator.
Fractions can be used to
show division problems.
7
Use partial-quotients division to rename For example, 8 is another
7
 as a decimal.
way to write 7 8.
8 So, one way to rename
Step 1: Estimate the quotient. It will be less than 1 but 7 as a decimal is to
8
1
greater than 2. divide 7 by 8.
Step 2: Decide how many digits you want to the right of the This method will always
decimal point. For measuring or solving everyday work. Any fraction can be
problems, two or three digits are usually enough. renamed as a decimal by
7 dividing its numerator
In this case, rename 8 as a decimal with three digits
by its denominator.
to the right of the decimal point.
Step 3: Rewrite the numerator with a 0 for each decimal place
you want. Rewrite the numerator, 7, as 7.000.
Step 4: Use partial-quotients division to divide 7.000 by 8.
Ignore the decimal point for now, and divide 7000 by 8.

0
870
0

 6400 800
600
 560 70
40
 40 5
0 875
Step 5: Use the estimate from Step 1 to place the decimal
point in the quotient.
7 1
Since 8 is between 2 and 1, the decimal point should
be placed before the 8, to give 0.875.
7
So, 
8  0.875.

In this case, there was no remainder and the answer worked

out to exactly three decimal places. Sometimes you will find a
decimal name that is only approximately equal to the fraction.

fifty-five 55
Decimals and Percents

2
Use partial-quotients division to rename ᎏᎏ as
3
a decimal. In baseball, a player’s
batting average is written
Step 1: Estimate the quotient. It will be less than 1 but
1 as a decimal. It is found
greater than ᎏ2ᎏ. by dividing number of
Step 2: Decide how many digits you want to the right of hits by number of times
2 at bat.
the decimal point. In this example, rename ᎏ3ᎏ as
a decimal with four digits to the right of the The all-time single-season
decimal point. records for major league
Step 3: Rewrite the numerator with a 0 for each decimal baseball are as follows:
place you want. Rewrite the numerator, 2, as 2.0000. In the National League,
Roger Hornsby’s average
Step 4: Use partial-quotients division to divide 2.0000 by 3.
in 1924 was .424.
Ignore the decimal point for now, and divide
In the American League,
20000 by 3. Napoleon Lajoie’s average
in 1901 was .426.
苶0
3冄2苶0
苶0
苶0
苶
⫺ 18000 6000
2000
⫺ 1800 600
200
⫺ 180 60
20
⫺ 18 6
2 6666
2
Division shows that 20000 / 3 ⫽ 6666ᎏ3ᎏ, which
rounds to 6667.
Step 5: Use the estimate from Step 1 to place the decimal
point in the quotient.
2 1
Since ᎏ3ᎏ is between ᎏ2ᎏ and 1, the decimal point should
be placed before the first 6, to give 0.6667.

So, ᎏ23ᎏ ≈ 0.6667. (The symbol ≈ means is about equal to.)

Use partial-quotients division to find decimal equivalents for these fractions.

3 5 7
1. ᎏᎏ (to 3 decimal places) 2. ᎏᎏ (to 3 decimal places) 3. ᎏᎏ (to 4 decimal places)
8 6 9
Check your answers on page 416.

56 fifty-six
 Decimals and Percents

5
Use column division to rename  as a decimal.
8

Step 1: Write 58 as a division problem. Step 2: Since 5 ones cannot be equally
Draw a line and make decimal points to show shared 8 ways, trade the 5 ones for 50 tenths.
amounts smaller than 1. Write 0 in the first Share the 50 tenths 8 ways. Each share is 6
decimal place in the dividend to show there tenths. There are 2 tenths left over.
are 0 tenths.
0 . 6
. )
8 5 . 0
8) 5 . 0 50
48
2
Step 3: Draw a line to show amounts Step 4: Draw another line and write
smaller than 1 tenth. Write 0 to show there another 0. Trade the 4 hundredths for
are no hundredths. Trade the 2 tenths for 40 thousandths. Share the 40 thousandths
20 hundredths. Share the 20 hundredths 8 8 ways. Each share is 5 thousandths.
ways. Each share is 2 hundredths. There are
0 .. 6 2 5
4 hundredths left over.
8) 5 .. 0 0 0
0 . 6 2 50 20 40
8) 5 . 0 0 48 16 40
50 20 2 4 0
–48 –16
2 4
The answer works out exactly.
5

8
 0.625

The digits in the decimal name for a fraction may repeat.

2
Rename  as a decimal.
11
The column-division method
0 . 1 8 1 8 1 8
keeps repeating.
)
11 2 . 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 90 20 90 20 90
The digits 1 and 8 will repeat forever.
11 88 11 88 11 88
9 2 9 2 9 2
2
The decimal name for 
11 8
can be written 0.18181818…, or as 0.1.

Use column division to find the decimal name for each fraction.
3 5 5
1.  2.  3. 
8 6 9
Check your answers on page 416.

fifty-seven 57
Decimals and Percents

Using a Calculator
You can also rename a fraction as a decimal by dividing the
numerator by the denominator using a calculator.
On some calculators, the
Rename
3
 and
7
 as decimals. final digit for a repeating
4 8
decimal may not follow
Key in: 3 4 Key in: 7 8 the pattern. For example,
2
a calculator may show 3
Answer: 0.75 Answer: 0.875
 2 / 3  0.6666666667.
3 7

4  0.75 
8
 0.875 The digit 6 really does
repeat forever, but this
calculator has rounded
In some cases, the decimal takes up the entire calculator the final digit.
display. If one or more digits repeat, the decimal can be written
by writing the repeating digit or digits just once, and putting a
bar above the digit or digits that repeat.

Fraction Key in: Calculator Display Answer

1
 1 3 0.3333333 0.3
3

2
2 3 0.6666666 or 0.6666666667
3
0.6
(depending on the calculator)

1 1 6 0.1666666 or 0.1666666667

6 0.16
(depending on the calculator)
4
 4 9 0.4444444 0.4
4
9
6 11 0.5454545 or 0.5454545455
6 0.5
54
11 (depending on the calculator)
7 7 12 0.5833333 0.583
3
12

Some calculators have special keys for entering fractions

3
and renaming them as decimals. For example, to rename 5,
you could key in 3 5 on Calculator A, or
3 5 on Calculator B. The result would be the same
as if you had divided the numerator by the denominator.

Use a calculator to rename each fraction as a decimal.

7 4 5 5 2 7
1.  2.  3.  4.  5.  6. 
8 12 12 16 9 6
Check your answers on page 416.

58 fifty-eight
 Decimals and Percents

Renaming Fractions, Decimals, and Percents

The previous pages describe how to rename fractions as
decimals. Here we discuss how to change decimals to fractions,
fractions to percents, and so on.
Renaming Decimals as Fractions
Any terminating decimal can be renamed as a fraction whose
denominator is a power of 10. To change a terminating decimal
to a fraction, use the place of the rightmost digit to help you
write the denominator.

4 2 8 4 2 25 5 1 124 62 31
0.4  10  5 0.08  
100  50  25
   0.25  
100  20  4
   0.124  
1,000  500  250
  
Ó Ó Ó Ó
tenths place hundredths place hundredths place thousandths place

Some calculators have special keys for renaming decimals as

fractions and for simplifying fractions.

48 12
To rename 0.48 as a fraction, key in: .48 . Answer:  (or )
100 25
12
To simplify the fraction, key in: . Answer: 
25

Renaming Fractions as Percents

One way to rename some fractions as percents is to find an
equivalent fraction with 100 as the denominator first. Then
3 75
write the fraction as a percent. For example, 4  
100  75%.


Another way is to divide the numerator by the denominator of

the fraction. This renames the fraction as a decimal. Then
multiply the result by 100 and write the % symbol. You can
do this with paper and pencil or with a calculator.

3
Use a calculator to rename  as a percent.
8
• Divide 3 by 8. Key in: 3 8 Answer: 0.375
• Multiply 0.375 by 100. Key in: .375 100 Answer: 37.5
3
So, 
8  37.5%.

fifty-nine 59
Decimals and Percents

Renaming Percents as Fractions

A percent can always be renamed as a fraction whose
denominator is 100. Simply remove the % symbol and write a
fraction bar and the denominator 100 below the number. The
fraction can be renamed in simplest form if you want.

40 2 85 17
40%  
100  
5 85%  
100  
20
Decimals between 0 and
150 3 1
150%  
100  
2  12 1 are usually written with
a 0 in the ones place.
3
For example, 4  0.75.
Renaming Percents as Decimals But sports statistics
A percent can be renamed as a decimal by first changing it to a often drop this leading 0.
fraction whose denominator is 100. Batting averages in
baseball, field goal
75 300 percentages in basketball,
75%  
100  0.75 300%  
100 3 and percentage of games
won are almost always
37.5 375
37.5%  
100  
1,000  0.375 reported as decimals
written as .xyz, not as
[Link].
Renaming Decimals as Percents
To rename a decimal as a percent, multiply it by 100 and write
the % symbol.

0.35  (0.35 * 100)%  35%

1.2  (1.2 * 100)%  120%
0.0675  (0.0675 * 100)%  6.75%

1. Rename each fraction or mixed number as a percent.

3 9 3 1 3
a. 5 b. 1
0 c. 8 d. 15 e. 14

2. Rename each percent as a fraction or mixed number.

a. 80% b. 15% c. 125%

3. Rename each decimal as a fraction or mixed number.

Check your answers on a calculator.
a. 0.6 b. 0.45 c. 5.43 d. 1.019
Check your answers on page 416.

60 sixty
 .S. Census
The U

Since 1790, the monumental task of counting and gathering

information about every person living in the United States
has been undertaken by the government once every ten years.
With the growth of the U.S. population and advances in
technology, this process, called the decennial census, has
changed a great deal.

A Constitutional Mandate
The authors of the Constitution wanted each state’s number of
members in the House of Representatives to be based on its total
population. For this reason, a census, or count of the people, was
required by the Constitution.

Article 1, Section 2, calls for an

“enumeration” of the entire➤ U.S.
population every ten years.

➤
The 1790 census was conducted by
17 U.S. Marshals and hundreds of assistants.
They recorded information by hand on
paper. It took 18 months to gather data and
make this report, which shows a total of
about 3.9 million people.

sixty-one 61
 Dealing with Data
From the beginning, the census counted people and gathered
basic information, such as names, ages, and genders. In 1820,
the government added questions in order to learn more about
manufacturing, agriculture, and social issues, such as illiteracy
and crime. The task of processing the data became much
more complex.

➤
As in this 1870 scene, census-
takers, or enumerators,
hand-wrote answers to the
census questions during
home visits. This face-to-face
method of data collection
was not changed until 1960.

In 1880, the population was 50 million, and processing

the information took seven years! With the invention
of a punchcard tabulating system, the 1890 census was
processed in just two and a half years.
➤

A punch-card machine
made holes in specific
locations on a card to
represent each person's
information.
A tabulating machine
pushed metal pins
through the holes in
each card, which
completed an electrical
circuit and caused the ➤
dial counters to move.

62 sixty-two
 ➤
In 1940, in addition to the decennial
census, the U.S. Census Bureau began
tracking unemployment through monthly
surveys of a representative part of the
population. Statisticians used the data to
draw conclusions about the whole country.
This method, called sampling, saved time
and money, and led to the development
of surveys on over 100 topics.

➤
In 1940, a detailed
set of questions about
housing was permanently
added to the census.
The government hoped
to use this information to
improve the standard of
living for the population
of 132 million Americans.

The Census Bureau helped pay

for the development of the first
electronic computer for processing
data. Starting with the 1950
Census, data from punch cards
were transferred to magnetic tape,
which enabled the room-sized
UNIVAC (Universal Automatic
Computer) to➤tabulate 4,000 items
per minute.

sixty-three 63
 More Advances
To take advantage of the ability of computers to count data
quickly, there also had to be advances in collecting data and
preparing it for processing.

➤
Here, high-speed cameras
photograph questionnaires as
part of a new system developed
in the 1950s. Dots were filled in
with pencil to indicate answers,
then photographed onto
microfilm and “read” by
computers.

In 1960, the Census Bureau began using

self-enumeration forms, which were
mailed to households for people to fill
➤
out themselves. Enumerators collected
the competed forms.
➤

Sampling techniques were also used

to improve the efficiency and value
of the decennial census. Most of the
population received a “short form”
questionnaire with 6 or 7 basic
questions. About 17% of the
population received the more
detailed and involved “long form.”

64 sixty-four
 ➤
Since 1970, the Census Bureau has asked
people to return their questionnaires by
mail. However, enumerators are still
needed to help the Bureau reach as close
to 100% of the population as possible.

Enumerators now use handheld

➤
and laptop computers to locate
addresses and enter data.

➤
The 2000 census was easier to fill out
and faster to process due to the use
of computers capable of reading
handwriting. Even so, government
and business leaders were concerned
that data collected once every ten
years was not current enough for
important planning purposes.

In an effort to have reliable data on a

yearly basis, the Census Bureau began
testing the new American Community
Survey (ACS) in 1996. The ACS uses
monthly surveys to provide estimates of
the population and its characteristics. If
approved by Congress, the ACS will ➤
replace the census long form in 2010.

sixty-five 65
 Putting the Data to Use
The U.S. Census Bureau publishes thousands of reports every
year, which are used by governments, businesses, journalists,
social scientists, non-profit organizations, and ordinary people.
Because of the huge amount of information it collects and shares,
the Bureau is often called “The Fact-Finder for the Nation.”

The number of representatives

each state sends to Congress is
still determined by census results.
Population data are also used to
redraw voting district lines every
decade so that each person’s➤
vote carries equal weight.

➤
Government leaders use
census data to plan how to Business planners use
distribute money for census data to decide
schools, libraries, healthcare which communities are
clinics, and senior centers. good markets for things
such as stores, movie
➤

theaters, and restaurants.

➤

You can access most of the Census Bureau

data on the Internet or at your library. What
do you want to know about your community?

66 sixty-six