40/55 as a percentage is 72.73%. This value tells you how much of a whole the fraction represents when you look at it in terms of hundredths.
The fraction 40/55 can be simplified to 8/11, which is still the same part of a whole. Whether you write it as 8/11 or 40/55, the amount stays the same, and it always converts to the same percentage.
Knowing the percentage makes it easy to compare this part to other numbers that are already expressed in percent, such as test scores or discounts. It’s a quick way to see that 40/55 is a little more than three‑quarters of a whole.