Decimals and Percentages
Decimals and Percentages covers decimal place value (tenths, hundredths and thousandths), converting fluently between fractions, decimals and percentages using known equivalents such as 1/4 = 0.25 = 25%, rounding decimals, and calculating a percentage of an amount by finding 10% first.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Understand decimal place value: the digit straight after the decimal point represents tenths, the next represents hundredths, then thousandths.
- Convert between simple fractions, decimals and percentages using known equivalents, such as 1/2 = 0.5 = 50% and 1/4 = 0.25 = 25%.
- To find a percentage of an amount, find 10% first (divide the amount by 10), then scale that value up or down to build the percentage you need.
- When adding or subtracting decimals in columns, line up the decimal points so digits of the same place value sit in the same column.
- When multiplying a decimal by a whole number, ignore the decimal point, multiply as if both numbers were whole, then place the point back based on the total number of decimal places.
- To round a decimal, look at the digit just after the place value you are rounding to: round up if it is 5 or more, and keep the digit the same if it is below 5.
- Estimate first, then check your final answer is a sensible size.
Worked example
Find 35% of 240.
- Find 10% of 240 by dividing by 10: 240 divided by 10 = 24.
- Find 5% by halving the 10% value: 24 divided by 2 = 12.
- Find 30% by multiplying the 10% value by 3: 24 x 3 = 72.
- Add the 30% and 5% parts together: 72 + 12 = 84.
- So 35% of 240 = 84.
Practice questions
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Q1Write 0.6 as a fraction in its simplest form.Show answer
Answer: 3/5
Q2Write 3/4 as a decimal.Show answer
Answer: 0.75
Q3What is 20% of 150?Show answer
Answer: 30
Q4Round 6.482 to 1 decimal place.Show answer
Answer: 6.5
Q54.6 + 2.35 =Show answer
Answer: 6.95
Q60.7 x 6 =Show answer
Answer: 4.2
Q7Write 0.08 as a percentage.Show answer
Answer: 8%
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a KS2 Maths exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A jacket costs 45 pounds. In a sale it is reduced by 20%. Work out the sale price.
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Order these numbers from smallest to largest: 0.6, 7/10, 65%, 0.55.
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A recipe uses 0.375kg of flour. Write this amount as a fraction in its simplest form.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the decimals and percentages worksheet pack - 8 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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