The term "percent" refers to a part of a whole that is out of 100. It is a way to express a proportion or a fraction of something. For example, if you have 25 percent of an apple, you have 25 out of 100 parts of the apple.
In mathematics and statistics, percentages are commonly used to express averages, ratios, and other proportions. Here are some common uses of percentages:
Interest rates: For example, a 5% interest rate means that for every $100 you borrow, you will pay $5 in interest over a certain period.
Sales taxes: A 7% sales tax on a $50 item would add $3.50 to the total cost.
Population statistics: A city might grow by 2% each year.
Polls and surveys: Poll results are often reported as percentages, such as "60% of respondents prefer option A."
To convert a percentage to a decimal, you divide the percentage by 100. For example, 25% becomes 0.25 by dividing 25 by 100. To convert a decimal to a percentage, you multiply by 100 and add the percent sign. For example, 0.25 becomes 25% by multiplying 0.25 by 100.
