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Converting a percentage to a decimal is a straightforward process. It involves two primary steps. First, take the percentage and divide it by 100. This division is because a percent symbol (%) means "out of 100." For instance, if you have 14.2%, you convert it to a decimal by doing the calculation: \[ 14.2 \div 100 = 0.142 \]Remember, moving a decimal point two places to the left is equivalent to dividing by 100, which is why 14.2% becomes 0.142. By understanding this, you can easily convert any percentage to a decimal in no time.

Transforming a percentage into a fraction is another useful skill. To do this, place the percentage value over 100. In the case of 14.2%, it initially becomes:\[ \frac{14.2}{100} \]However, fractions are often easier to work with when there are no decimals involved. To remove the decimal, multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 10, turning 14.2% into:\[ \frac{142}{1000} \]By doing this, we have shifted the decimal one place to the right, making it easier to handle. Once in this form, the fraction might still need to be simplified, which we will discuss next.

The process of simplifying fractions is about making a fraction as simple as possible for easy understanding and computation. After obtaining our fraction from the earlier step \( \frac{142}{1000} \), simplification involves finding the greatest common divisor (GCD) of both the numerator and denominator.1. Break down both numbers into their prime factors, if needed.2. Identify the largest shared factor.3. Divide both the numerator and the denominator by this factor.For \( \frac{142}{1000} \), the GCD is 2.\[ \frac{142 \div 2}{1000 \div 2} = \frac{71}{500} \]The fraction \( \frac{71}{500} \) represents the simplest form since 71 is a prime number and has no common divisors with 500. This process ensures the fraction is as reduced as possible, aiding both interpretation and computation.