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Understanding percentages is a fundamental math skill that applies to everyday life—from calculating discounts and interest rates to interpreting statistics. But what if you encounter a decimal like 1.5 and need to express it as a percentage?

In this article, we’ll break down exactly what percent 1.5 is equivalent to, why the conversion works this way, and how you can apply this knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Understanding the Basics: Decimals and Percentages

Before diving into the conversion, let’s clarify what decimals and percentages represent:

Decimals are a way to express numbers that aren’t whole, using a decimal point (e.g., 0.5, 1.25, 3.75).

Percentages represent parts per hundred, denoted by the "%" symbol. For example, 50% means 50 out of 100.

The key relationship between decimals and percentages is:

1 = 100%

This means any decimal can be converted to a percentage by multiplying it by 100.

Converting 1.5 to a Percentage

Now, let’s apply this to 1.5:

Multiply by 100:

1.5

×

100

=

150

1.5×100=150

Add the percent sign (%):

150

%

150%

So, 1.5 is equivalent to 150%.

Why Does This Work?

1.0 (or just 1) equals 100% because it represents a whole.

0.5 equals 50% because it’s half of 1.

Therefore, 1.5 (which is 1 + 0.5) equals 100% + 50% = 150%.

This logic applies to any decimal:

2.0 = 200%

0.75 = 75%

1.25 = 125%

Practical Examples

  1. Financial Growth

Imagine an investment grows by 1.5 times its original value. This means:

If you invested $100, it’s now worth $150.

Expressed as a percentage, that’s a 150% return (or a 50% profit on top of the original 100%).

  1. Test Scores

If a student scores 1.5 times the baseline score on an exam:

Baseline = 100 points

Actual score = 150 points

This is a 150% performance compared to the baseline.

  1. Statistical Increases

Suppose a company’s revenue increases from $1 million to $1.5 million:

The growth factor is 1.5, meaning revenue is now 150% of the original amount.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing Decimals with Percentages

Incorrect: Thinking 1.5 = 15%

Correct: 1.5 = 150%

Misplacing the Decimal Point

Moving the decimal incorrectly (e.g., 0.15 = 15%, not 150%) can lead to big errors.

Forgetting the Whole (100%)

Since 1 = 100%, anything above 1 represents more than 100%.

When Would You Use This Conversion?

Business & Finance: Calculating profit margins, interest rates, or growth metrics.

Academic Grading: Understanding scaled scores or performance improvements.

Data Analysis: Interpreting statistical increases or decreases.

Conclusion

Converting decimals to percentages is simple once you know the rule: Multiply by 100 and add the % sign.

So, 1.5 = 150%, meaning it represents one and a half times the whole. Whether you're analyzing financial data, interpreting test results, or just sharpening your math skills, this conversion is a useful tool to have in your toolkit.

Now that you understand how it works, try applying it to other decimals—like 0.8, 2.3, or 0.05—and see if you can quickly find their percentage equivalents!

Final Tip: If you ever forget, just remember:

Numbers ≥ 1.0 = ≥100%

Numbers < 1.0 =

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