Ratios, percentages, fractions and decimals are different expressions to represent the same thing, a proportional relationship between two quantities. In fact, in any ratio, the first number represents the numerator in a fraction and the second number represents the denominator. For example, 1:8 can be seen as the fraction 1/8, and 1/2 can be expressed as the ratio 1:2. Therefore, you can derive a decimal from a ratio by dividing the first number by the second number just as you would with a fraction.
Instructions
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1
Identify a ratio expression. For example, we will use 1:4.
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Begin with the first number in the expression. In this case, it is 1.
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Divide the first number by the second. In this case, we divide 4 into 1.
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Derive the solution to get the decimal. 1 divided by 4 = .25
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Multiply this number by 100 if you wish to convert the decimal to a percentage. In our example, the decimal equates to 25 percent.