The fraction 12/42 works out to 28.57% when expressed as a percentage. This tells you how much of a whole the fraction represents in a form that's easy to compare with other numbers.
If you simplify 12/42, you get the simpler fraction 2/7. Both fractions describe the same part of a whole, just in different ways. Seeing it as a percentage makes it quick to understand that it’s a little more than a quarter of the whole.
Percentages are handy in everyday situations—like figuring out discounts, grades, or statistics. Knowing that 12/42 equals about 28.57% helps you see the size of that part without having to work with the fraction directly.
