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Rational numbers can be represented in different ways...
fractions,
decimals, and percents.
These three are all equivalent
representations of
rational numbers. You would decide which
representation to use depending on the situation.
| Situation
#1:
You and your three friends decide to go out for
pizza. Before ordering you question how much of the pizza
each of you will want. It is decided that each of you want
an equal share.
Question:
Would you use a fraction, a decimal, or a
percent to talk about your share?
Solution:
Your choices to represent your share of pizza
would be ¼, 0.25, or 25%. The fraction makes more sense to
use when talking about food. Everyone then would get ¼ of
the pizza. |
| Situation
#2:
A car salesman is hired and would like to know what
his commission will be.
Question:
Will the salesman most likely be told a fraction,
decimal, or percent for his commission?
Solution:
Commission is expressed using a percent. Say
the salesman would make 8% of the selling price. That makes more
sense than saying 0.8 or 4/25. |
| Situation
#3:
Flu season has come and you go to the nurse not
feeling well. The nurse takes your temperature.
Question:
When the nurse tells you what your temperature is
will she give you a fraction, a decimal, or a percent?
Solution:
Temperatures, unless they are whole numbers, are
given as decimal numbers. |
In some situations
more than one
representation may be used. These equivalent representations may also be
used to help estimate.
| Situation
#4:
Your family decided to have the driveway
repaved. Around noontime you are told the driveway will be done
soon. You ask about how much of it is done.
Question:
Will you be told how much of the driveway is done in
fraction, decimal, or percent form?
Solution:
In this case a fraction and a percent could be
used. For example, the driveway may be 75% finished or ¾
finished. Of course they probably did not measure the driveway
to give an exact answer. This would be an estimation. |
Let's Practice
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