The value of a mutual fund increased by 3 1/8%. How do you write 3 1/8% as a fraction in simplest form?

1 Answer
Apr 30, 2017

#1/32#

Explanation:

Note that the symbol % is a sort of unit of measurement but one that is worth #1/100#

So #3 1/8%" "->" "3 1/8 xx %" "->" "3 1/8xx1/100#

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Consider just the #3 1/8#

Write as #3+1/8#

Multiply by 1 and you do not change the value. However, 1 comes in many forms so you can change the way a fraction looks without changing its intrinsic value.

#color(green)([3color(red)(xx1)]+1/8" "->" "[3color(red)(xx8/8)]+1/8)#

#" "color(green)(->" " 24/8+1/8#

#" "->" "25/8#
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Putting it all together we have:

#" "color(red)(25/8)xx color(purple)(1/100)#

This is the same as: #" "color(purple)(1/(color(red)(8))xx(color(red)(cancel(25)^1))/(cancel(100)^4)#

#" "=1/32#