Chapter 4: Problem 39
Use proportions to change each common fraction to a percent. $$\frac{3}{5}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The fraction \( \frac{3}{5} \) is 60%.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Problem
We need to convert the fraction \( \frac{3}{5} \) into a percent. A percent is a ratio with a denominator of 100.
02
Set Up the Proportion
To convert \( \frac{3}{5} \) to a percentage, set up a proportion where \( \frac{3}{5} = \frac{x}{100} \). Here, \( x \) represents the percentage of the fraction.
03
Solve the Proportion
Cross-multiply the proportion to solve for \( x \). This gives: \( 3 \times 100 = 5 \times x \). Simplify to get \( 300 = 5x \).
04
Solve for x
Divide both sides of the equation by 5 to isolate \( x \): \( x = \frac{300}{5} \). Simplify to find \( x = 60 \).
05
Interpret the Result
The value of \( x \) is 60, which means \( \frac{3}{5} \) is equivalent to 60%.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Fractions to Percentages
When converting fractions to percentages, it's helpful to remember that a percentage is simply a fraction with a denominator of 100. This means that to convert any fraction to a percentage, you need to find an equivalent fraction that has 100 in the denominator. Let's break this down:
- Identify the fraction you want to convert. In this case, \( \frac{3}{5} \) is our starting fraction.
- To convert this fraction to a percentage, we want to find an equivalent fraction with a denominator of 100.
- Once we find this fraction, the numerator will be the percentage.
Proportion Method
The proportion method is a handy tool to convert fractions to percentages. It uses the relationship of ratios to establish an equivalent percentage.
- Set up a proportion by equating your initial fraction to a fraction with a denominator of 100. For \( \frac{3}{5} \), you use the proportion \( \frac{3}{5} = \frac{x}{100} \).
- Here, \( x \) is the unknown and represents the percentage we are solving for.
- This setup allows us to maintain the relative size of the comparison while converting to a format that makes calculating the final percentage straightforward.
Cross Multiplication
Cross multiplication is an efficient and clear method to solve proportions, especially when you're working with percentages. By cross-multiplying, you eliminate the fractions, making it easier to solve for the unknown.
- For the proportion \( \frac{3}{5} = \frac{x}{100} \), perform cross multiplication by multiplying diagonally: 3 times 100 and 5 times \( x \).
- This gives the equation \( 3 \times 100 = 5 \times x \).
- Perform the multiplication to get \( 300 = 5x \).
- Finally, solve for \( x \) by dividing both sides by 5, yielding \( x = 60 \).