How to Convert Fractions to Percentages

Many math-haters have nightmares about practice sheets full of fractions, but even those with math phobias will be pleased to know that converting fractions to percentages is an easy task. Commit these simple steps to memory and you'll be a math whiz in no time.

Instructions

Using a Calculator

1. Use a calculator to divide the top number of a fraction by the bottom number. For example, if the fraction is 4/16, you would enter 4 into the calculator, press the division button, enter 16 into the calculator, then press equal.

2. Take the number that's on your calculator from Step 1 and multiply it by 100. For example, in Step 1, we divided 4 by 16 and came up with the number 0.25. Enter 0.25 on your calculator, then press the multiplication button, then enter 100, then press equal. The calculator should read 25.

3. Add a percent sign to the number that comes up on your calculator after multiplying by 100. This is the percentage. Therefore, when you convert 4/16 from a fraction, you get 25 percent.

Using Paper and Pencil

1. Use a paper and pencil to write down the fraction.

2. Determine what can be multiplied by the denominator--the bottom number of your fraction--to equal 100. For example, let's say the fraction is 2/5. We know that 5 multiplied by 20 equals 100. So the number to use in the next step is 20. (You can use a calculator to determine this number if you are unsure.)

3. Multiply the number by both the top and bottom of the fraction. So, for example, we determined in Step 2 that 20 can be multiplied by 5 to get 100. In this step, multiply both numbers of the fraction by 20. Since our fraction is 2/5, we multiply 2 times 20 to get 40, and 5 times 20 to get 100. Our new fraction becomes 40/100.

4. Drop the bottom number of the fraction and add a percent sign to the top number and you have successfully converted a fraction to a percent. Since we got 40/100 in Step 3, we would drop the 100 and add a percent sign to the 40. Therefore, the fraction 2/5 is equal to 40 percent.