Oregon population

Explanation

We will write the mixed number \(1\frac14\) in decimal notation.  With \(1\frac14\) mixed-number form, we cannot apply the rule for writing a percent as a decimal; there is no decimal point to move 2 places to the left.

Solution

To change a percent to a decimal, we drop the percent symbol and divide by 100 by moving the decimal point 2 places to the left.  In this case, however, there is no decimal point to move in \(1\frac14\)%.  Since \(1\frac14 = 1 + \frac14\), and since the decimal equivalent of \(\frac14\) is 0.25, we can write \(1\frac14\)% in an equivalent form as 1.25%.

• Write \(1\frac14\) as 1.25
  • \(1\frac14\)% = 1.25%
• Drop the % symbol and divide 1.25 by 100 by moving the decimal point 2 places to the left.  This requires that a placeholder zero (shown in blue) be inserted in front of the 1
  • = .0125
• Write a zero to the left of the decimal point
  • = 0.0125
• \(1\frac14\)%, written as a decimal, is 0.0125