Fractions, decimals and percentages are all ways of expressing parts of a whole. Each one of these forms can be renamed using the other two forms.

For example, the fraction 2/5 can be represented as a different fraction (4/10), as a decimal (0.4) or as a percentage (40%). Consumers often see signs advertising 1/2 price or 50% off. These two forms mean the same thing; they are simply different ways of expressing parts of a whole.

We use different forms because each form is more convenient to use in specific situations. For example, 1/2 of 224 is easier to calculate than 0.5 x 224 or 50% of 224. As another example, it is easier to calculate 1/3 of 360 than it is to calculate 360 x 0.3333… , but it is easier to add 0.47 + 0.101 than it is to add 47/100 + 101/1000.