Mathematics
Grade 6
15 min
Compare percentages
Compare percentages
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define what a percentage is and how it represents a part of a whole.
Convert percentages to decimals and fractions.
Convert decimals and fractions to percentages.
Compare two percentages using comparison symbols (>, <, =).
Compare a percentage with a fraction or a decimal by converting them to a common format.
Apply percentage comparison skills to simple real-world scenarios.
Have you ever wondered which store has a better sale, 🛍️ one offering '25% off' or another offering '1/4 off'? Today, we'll learn how to compare these kinds of numbers!
In this lesson, you will learn how to compare different percentages, as well as how to compare percentages with fractions and decimals. Understanding how to compare these values helps u...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PercentageA percentage is a way to express a number as a fraction of 100. It means 'per hundred' or 'out of 100'.25% means 25 out of 100, or 25/100.
FractionA fraction represents a part of a whole, expressed as a numerator (top number) over a denominator (bottom number).1/2 means 1 part out of 2 equal parts.
DecimalA decimal is a number that uses a decimal point to show parts of a whole, where each digit after the decimal point represents a power of ten.0.5 is the same as 5/10 or 1/2.
Greater Than (>)A symbol used to show that one value is larger than another value.50% > 40% means 50% is greater than 40%.
Less Than (<)A symbol used to show that one value is smaller than another value.25% < 30% means 25% is less than 30%.
Equal To (=)A...
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Core Formulas
Converting Percentage to Decimal
$P\% = \frac{P}{100}$
To convert a percentage to a decimal, divide the percentage number by 100 (or move the decimal point two places to the left).
Converting Percentage to Fraction
$P\% = \frac{P}{100}$
To convert a percentage to a fraction, write the percentage number over 100 and then simplify the fraction if possible.
Comparing Values in a Common Format
To compare percentages, fractions, or decimals, convert all values to the same format (either all percentages, all decimals, or all fractions with a common denominator) and then compare the numbers directly.
This rule ensures you are comparing 'apples to apples'. For example, if you have 25% and 1/4, convert 1/4 to 25% to easily compare.
5 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
A store offers a 30% discount on a shirt. A different store offers a 1/4 discount on the same shirt. Which is the better deal for the customer?
A.The 30% discount
B.The 1/4 discount
C.The deals are equal
D.It depends on the price of the shirt
Challenging
Maria incorrectly converted 2/10 to a percentage. She wrote '2/10 = 2%' and then concluded that '2/10 < 15%'. What was her mistake?
A.Her comparison was wrong; 2% is actually greater than 15%.
B.She should have converted 15% to a fraction first.
C.Her conversion was wrong; 2/10 is 20%, not 2%.
D.She cannot compare a fraction to a percentage.
Challenging
In a survey, 1/4 of students chose apples, 0.3 of students chose bananas, and the rest chose oranges. Which fruit was the most popular choice?
A.Apples
B.Oranges
C.Bananas
D.Apples and Bananas were tied
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