Percents & Decimals
Practise converting between percents and decimals — the quick two-place shift that underpins all percentage work.
Practice now
How percents and decimals connect
A percent is just a decimal in disguise: “per cent” means “per hundred,” so converting is only a matter of moving the decimal point two places — because dividing or multiplying by 100 shifts it two spots.
- Percent → decimal: divide by 100 — move the point two places left. 35% → 0.35.
- Decimal → percent: multiply by 100 — move the point two places right. 0.6 → 60%.
- Add zeros as needed: 7% → 0.07, and 0.5 → 50%.
Worked examples
Tips & common mistakes
It’s always a two-place shift — the only thing to watch is which direction and whether you need to add a zero (7% is 0.07, not 0.7). Type your answer with the number and decimal-point keys.
- Moving the point only one place (writing 35% as 3.5 instead of 0.35).
- Forgetting the leading zero: 7% is 0.07, not 0.7.
- Shifting the wrong direction — to a decimal go left, to a percent go right.
Frequently asked questions
How do you turn a percent into a decimal?
Divide by 100, which moves the decimal point two places left. 35% becomes 0.35 and 7% becomes 0.07.
How do you turn a decimal into a percent?
Multiply by 100, moving the point two places right. 0.6 becomes 60% and 0.05 becomes 5%.
Why two places?
Because percent means “out of 100,” and multiplying or dividing by 100 always shifts the decimal point two places.
Why is 7% equal to 0.07, not 0.7?
Because you move two places: 7 → 0.07. Forgetting the leading zero is the most common slip.
What grade is this?
Converting between percents and decimals is a grade 6–7 skill.