42/78 as a percentage is 53.85%. This value is the rounded result you get when you change the fraction into a percent form. It tells you that the fraction is just over half of a whole.
The fraction 42/78 can be reduced to a simpler form by dividing both numbers by their greatest common factor, which is 6. This gives you 7/13, a smaller fraction that still represents the same part of a whole. Even after simplifying, the percentage stays the same because the value hasn't changed.
Knowing the percentage helps you compare this part to other numbers quickly. For example, if you scored 42 out of 78 points on a test, you earned about 53.85% of the total points, which is a little more than half. This kind of conversion is useful in school, sports, and everyday budgeting.