Question

Of the students in your class, 12% are left-handed. What fraction of the students are left-handed? Are there more right-handed or left-handed students? Explain. Write your answers in simplest form.

Answer 1

The left-handed students
12% are left handed, percent means per hundred. Change percent into per 100.
12% = $\dfrac{12}{100}$

Then simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by 4
$\dfrac{12}{100}$
= $\dfrac{12:4}{100:4}$
= $\dfrac{3}{25}$
This is the fraction showing the proportion of the left-handed students

The right-handed students
Determine the fraction showing the proportion of the right-handed students
1 - the left-handed
= 1 - $\dfrac{3}{25}$

Equalize the denominator to 25
$\dfrac{25}{25} - \dfrac{3}{25}$

Simplify
$\dfrac{21}{25}$
This is the proportion of the right-handed students

Are there more right-handed or left-handed students?
There are more right-handed students than the left-handed students, because 21/25 is more than 3/25