38/98 as a percentage is 38.78%. This number tells you how much of a whole the fraction represents when you look at it in terms of parts per hundred.
The fraction 38/98 can be reduced to 19/49, which is still about the same size as the original. Whether you keep it as 38/98 or simplify it, the percentage stays the same: roughly 38.78 out of every 100.
Knowing this percentage is useful for quick comparisons. For example, if you see a test score of 38/98, you can instantly recognize it as about 39 % without having to do any extra math.