Money Math · Consumer Math Lesson
Fractions, Decimals, and Percents — Converting Between Forms
A lesson and printable worksheet teaching students how to convert between fractions, decimals, and percents using money as the concrete example. The lesson is free to read; the matching printable worksheet is available with Full Membership.
What Students Learn
Learning objectives
- That the same value can be written as a fraction, a decimal, or a percent (e.g. 1/4 = 25% = 0.25)
- How to change a fraction to a decimal (divide the numerator by the denominator)
- How to change a decimal to a percent (multiply by 100, or move the decimal point two places right)
- How to change a percent to a decimal (divide by 100, or move the decimal point two places left)
- How to change a percent to a fraction (write over 100, then reduce)
Lesson Plan
Fractions, decimals, and percents — full lesson plan
Objective
Students will convert between fractions, decimals, and percents, using money values (quarters, dimes, and dollars) as a familiar concrete anchor for the four conversion rules.
Key concepts
Money is a natural way to introduce this topic: a quarter is 1/4 of a dollar, which is also 25% of a dollar, which is also $0.25. All three express the same value in a different format.
Rule 1 — Fraction to decimal: divide the numerator by the denominator (1/2 = 1 ÷ 2 = 0.50).
Rule 2 — Decimal to percent: multiply by 100, or move the decimal point two places right (0.80 → 80%).
Rule 3 — Percent to decimal: divide by 100, or move the decimal point two places left (65% → 0.65).
Rule 4 — Percent to fraction: write the percent over 100 and reduce (20% = 20/100 = 1/5).
Suggested procedure
- Warm up with coins. Ask students how to write the value of a quarter as a fraction of a dollar, then as a percent, then as a decimal.
- Introduce the four rules. Walk through each conversion rule with worked examples.
- Practice with a real scenario. Use a class survey (e.g. favorite foods) where results are given in mixed formats — fractions, percents, decimals — and ask students to prove they all agree.
- Complete the worksheet. Students practice all four conversion directions independently.
- Review common mistakes. Emphasize dividing a fraction correctly (adding a decimal point and zeros as needed) and moving the decimal the right direction and distance.
Materials needed
- The printable Fractions, Decimals, and Percents worksheet (below)
- Play money or real coins (quarters, dimes, nickels) for the warm-up
The lesson content above is free to use. The printable worksheet below is available with Full Membership.
Printable Worksheet · Full Membership
Fractions, Decimals, and Percents — Worksheet & Answer Key
A printable worksheet practicing all four conversions between fractions, decimals, and percents, with an answer key for teacher use.
Related Resources
More money math worksheets and lessons
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