42/48 as a percentage is 87.50%. This value tells you how much of a whole the fraction represents when you look at it on a scale of 100.
The fraction 42/48 can be reduced to 7/8, which is a simple way to see that it is just a little short of a full unit. Knowing the percentage helps you quickly compare it with other numbers that are already in percent form.
In everyday life, you might see this percentage on a test score, a discount, or a progress bar. It’s a handy figure because it’s easy to read and understand at a glance.