What is 1/40 as a percentage?

Question

Denominators like 40 look awkward until you relate them to a friendlier one. Solve in your head. What is 	frac{1}{40} as a percentage? Aim: under 10 seconds.

Accepted Answer

Note 	frac{1}{40} = 	frac{1}{4} 	imes 	frac{1}{10}. Since 	frac14 = 25\%, 	frac{1}{40} = 	frac{25\%}{10} = 2.5\%. Equivalently, 	frac{1}{40} = 	frac{2.5}{100} = 2.5\%. Takeaway. Factor an ugly denominator into a familiar fraction times a power of ten: 	frac{1}{40} = 	frac14 \div 10, 	frac{1}{400} = 	frac14 \div 100, and so on. Shifting a known percentage by a decimal place is far faster than dividing from scratch.

What is 1/40 as a percentage?

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