Write each percent as a fraction. Give answers in lowest terms.
$15\%$

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that a percent means 'per hundred,' so 15% can be written as the fraction \( \frac{15}{100} \).
2. Write the fraction \( \frac{15}{100} \) to represent 15%.
3. Find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the numerator (15) and the denominator (100) to simplify the fraction. The GCD of 15 and 100 is 5.
4. Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCD (5) to simplify the fraction: \( \frac{15 \div 5}{100 \div 5} = \frac{3}{20} \).
5. Express the simplified fraction \( \frac{3}{20} \) as the final answer representing 15% in lowest terms.

Key Concepts

Understanding Percentages

A percent represents a part out of 100. Writing 15% means 15 parts out of 100, which can be expressed as the fraction 15/100. Recognizing this relationship is essential for converting percents to fractions.

Converting Percents to Fractions

To convert a percent to a fraction, write the percent number over 100 and simplify. For example, 15% becomes 15/100. This step bridges the concept of percentages with fractions, enabling further simplification.

Simplifying Fractions to Lowest Terms

Simplifying a fraction involves dividing the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD). For 15/100, the GCD is 5, so dividing both by 5 gives 3/20, the fraction in lowest terms.