Converting Fractions, Decimals & Percentages (Edexcel GCSE Maths)

Revision Note

FDP Conversions

How do I convert from a percentage to a decimal?

  • Divide by 100 (move digits two places to the right)

    • 6% as a decimal is 6 ÷ 100 = 0.06

    • 40% as a decimal is 40 ÷ 100 = 0.4

    • 350% as a decimal is 350 ÷ 100 = 3.5

    • 0.2% as a decimal is 0.2 ÷ 100 = 0.002

How do I convert from a decimal to a percentage?

  • Multiply by 100 (move digits two places to the left and add a % sign)

    • 0.35 as a percentage is  0.35 × 100 = 35%

    • 1.32 as a percentage is 1.32 × 100 = 132%

    • 0.004 as a percentage is 0.004 × 100 = 0.4%

How do I convert from a decimal to a fraction?

  • If it has one decimal place, write the digits over 10

    • 0.3 is 3 over 10

    • 1.1 is 11 over 10

  • If it has two decimal places, write the digits over 100

    • 0.07 is 7 over 100

    • 0.13 is  13 over 100

    • 30.01 is  3001 over 100

  • If it has n decimal places, write the digits over 10n

    • 0.513 is 513 over 1000

    • 0.0007 is  fraction numerator 7 over denominator 10 space 000 end fraction

  • Learn simple recurring decimals as fractions

    • 0.33333… = 0.3 with dot on top  is  1 third 

    • 0.66666… =  0.6 with dot on top is  2 over 3

  • Whole numbers can be written as fractions by writing them over 1

    • 5 is 5 over 1

How do I convert from a percentage to a fraction?

  • Write the percentage over 100

    • 37% is 37 over 100

How do I convert from a fraction to a decimal?

converting between fractions and decimals
  • Fractions written over powers of 10 are quicker

    • 3 over 5 equals 6 over 10 which is 0.6

    • 7 over 20 equals 35 over 100 which is 0.35

    • 1 over 500 equals 2 over 1000 which is 0.002

How do I convert from a fraction to a percentage?

  • Change fractions into decimals then multiply by 100

    • 4 over 5 equals 8 over 10 which is 0.8 as a decimal, which is 0.8 × 100 = 80%

Examiner Tips and Tricks

  • A calculator can be used to check conversions between fractions and decimals (even if the question says to show working without a calculator)

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Mark Curtis

Author: Mark Curtis

Expertise: Maths

Mark graduated twice from the University of Oxford: once in 2009 with a First in Mathematics, then again in 2013 with a PhD (DPhil) in Mathematics. He has had nine successful years as a secondary school teacher, specialising in A-Level Further Maths and running extension classes for Oxbridge Maths applicants. Alongside his teaching, he has written five internal textbooks, introduced new spiralling school curriculums and trained other Maths teachers through outreach programmes.

Dan Finlay

Author: Dan Finlay

Expertise: Maths Lead

Dan graduated from the University of Oxford with a First class degree in mathematics. As well as teaching maths for over 8 years, Dan has marked a range of exams for Edexcel, tutored students and taught A Level Accounting. Dan has a keen interest in statistics and probability and their real-life applications.