What is 3/8 as a percent?

Converting fractions to a percentage can be very helpful. Let's go through the steps to change a decimal into a percentage.

You can try different values to learn more about the conversion process.

Often, convert 10/27 to a percent or 19/50 to a percent, depending on the task.

Determining the scaling factor:

\frac{3}{8} = \frac{100}{8} = 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5

Applying a scaling factor to convert fractions to percentages:

\frac{3 × 12.5}{8 × 12.5} = \frac{37.5}{100} = 0.375 × 100 = 37.5%

Solution:

3/8 = 37.5%

What is a fraction?

A fraction represents parts of a whole. It has a top number (numerator) and a bottom number (denominator). For example, 3/4 means three out of four equal parts.

What is a percent?

A percent represents parts of a hundred. The symbol “%” shows proportions. 50% means half, and 200% means double the original value.

For fractions:

In this guide, we’ll be focusing on the fraction 3/8 and how to convert it into its percentage equivalent.

Method 1 – Fraction Scaling:

Understanding Fractions: At the heart of every fraction, there's a division taking place. The numerator denotes the 'portions' we're focused on. The denominator reveals the total possible 'portions'. So, when we say $\frac{3}{8}$ , we're essentially talking about 3 'portions' out of an available 8.
Explanation of Percentage: The term “Percent” has Latin roots, where “cent” means a hundred. So, a percentage essentially portrays a fraction where the denominator is always 100. For illustration, when we state 50%, it translates to 50 out of 100 or $\frac{50}{100}$ in fraction terms.
Transformation Process: To convert $\frac{3}{8}$ into a percentage, we must multiply the fraction to have 100 as its denominator. Begin by determining the factor by which 8 can be multiplied to get 100. This factor is $\frac{100}{8} = 12.5$ . Following this logic, multiply both the numerator and denominator by 12.5: $\frac{3 × 12.5}{8 × 12.5} = \frac{37.5}{100}$ .
Final Step: Once multiplied, the fraction denotes 37.5 out of 100, which is equivalent 37.5%.

Method 2 – Using Decimals:

Fraction to Decimal Transformation: Begin by expressing $\frac{3}{8}$ as a decimal. This step requires simple division: divide the numerator (3) by the denominator (8), resulting in 0.375.
Decimal to Percentage Conversion: Now, transform this decimal into a percentage. So, 0.375 multiplied by 100 equals 37.5%.
Wrapping Up: Through the decimal conversion method as well, $\frac{3}{8}$ is equivalent of 37.5% when expressed as a percentage.

Both methods, while distinct in approach, provide the same result. You can choose to use either the direct fraction scaling method or the decimal conversion method.