42/48 = 87.5%
A value like 42/48, or 87.5%, can show up when 42 out of 48 students finish a homework assignment on time. It could also describe a product that passes inspection, a team’s successful free throws, or the amount of a battery that remains.
To picture 42/48 quickly, imagine a row of 48 small boxes with only 6 left empty. That means the value is close to a full set—about seven-eighths, or a little less than nine out of every ten parts.
A common mistake is to call 87.5% “almost 100%” without noticing that 12.5% is still missing. People may also confuse 42/48 with 42%, but the denominator, 48, tells you the total number of parts.
