Page 462 - Basic College Mathematics with Early Integers

6.1 PERCENTS, DECIMALS, AND FRACTIONS Objectives

Understand Percent.

Objective Understanding Percent Write Percents as Decimals
or Fractions.
The word percent comes from the Latin phrase per centum, which means “per 100.”
For example, 53% (percent) means 53 per 100. In the square below, 53 of the 100 Write Decimals or Fractions
squares are shaded.Thus, 53% of the figure is shaded. as Percents.

Converting Percents, Decimals,
and Fractions.
53 of 100 squares
are shaded
or
53% is shaded.

53
Since 53% means 53 per 100, 53% is the ratio of 53 to 100, or .
100
53
53% =
100
Also,

7
7% = 7 parts per 100 parts
100
73
73% = 73 parts per 100 parts
100
109
109% = 109 parts per 100 parts
100

Percent
Percent means per one hundred. The “%” symbol is used to denote percent.

Percent is used in a variety of everyday situations. For example,
• 77.6% of the U.S. population uses the Internet.
• The store is having a 25%-off sale.
• 78% of us trust our local fire department.
• The enrollment in community colleges is predicted
to increase 1.3% each year.
• The South is the home of 49% of all frequent paint-
ball participants.

Example 1 Silver (gray) has been the most popular color for cars in the PRACTICE 1
United States the past nine years. Of 100 students in a club, 23 are
Out of 100 people, 25 people drive silver cars. What percent of people drive silver freshmen.What percent of the
cars? (Source: U.S. News & World Report) students are freshmen?
25
Solution: Since 25 people out of 100 drive silver cars, the fraction is . Then
100
25
= 25%
100
Answer
Work Practice 1 1. 23%
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