1/2 as a Percent and Decimal

Fractions, decimals and percentages are three ways of writing the same value. This page shows, step by step, how to turn 1/2 into a decimal and then into a percent, with a few everyday examples so the method sticks.

Understanding the fraction 1/2

1/2 means 1 part out of 2 equal parts of a whole. The top number is the numerator, the part you have. The bottom number is the denominator, the total number of equal parts.

Breaking down 1/2

1 (Numerator): the part you have or use.
2 (Denominator): the total number of equal parts in the whole.

For example, if a pizza is cut into 2 equal slices and you eat 1 slice, you have eaten 1/2 of the pizza.

How to convert 1/2 into a decimal

Divide the numerator by the denominator.

Step 1: Write it as division: 1 ÷ 2

Step 2: Work it out: 1 ÷ 2 = 0.5

So, 1/2 as a decimal is 0.5.

How to convert 1/2 into a percent

Take the decimal and multiply it by 100.

Step 1: Start with the decimal: 0.5

Step 2: Multiply by 100: 0.5 × 100 = 50%

So, 1/2 as a percent is 50%.

Quick conversion table

Fraction	Decimal	Percent
1/2	0.5	50%

Visual representation of 1/2

Picture a chocolate bar cut into 2 equal pieces. Eating 1 piece means you have eaten 1/2 of the bar, which is 0.5 as a decimal and 50% as a percent. The bar, the decimal and the percent all describe the same share, just in different forms.

Why this conversion matters

Cooking and baking

If a recipe asks for 1/2 cup of sugar, that is the same as 0.5 cup, or 50% of one cup.

Time

1/2 of one hour is 60 × 1/2 = 30 minutes.

Money and shopping

If you spend 1/2 of your budget, you have spent 50% of your total money. A discount of the same size means you save that share of the price.

Another way to get the percent

Multiply the fraction by 100 directly: (1/2) × 100 = 100/2 = 50%.

Common mistakes

Dividing the wrong way round. Always divide the numerator by the denominator, not the other way round.

Forgetting the × 100 step. The decimal alone is not the percent. Multiplying by 100 is what turns it into a percent.

Real-life examples

Food: Eating 1 slice from 2 slices means you ate 50% of the pizza.

Academic scores: Finishing 1 out of 2 assignments, or scoring 1 out of 2 marks, means you finished or scored 50% of the work.

Shopping: A discount equal to 1/2 of the price saves you 50% of what you would have paid.

Learn more

For a video explanation of this topic, see Khan Academy: Fraction, decimal, and percent from a visual model.