42/80 as a percentage is 52.50%. This number tells you how much of a whole the fraction represents when you look at it in terms of 100 parts.
The fraction 42/80 can be reduced to 21/40, which is still the same size as the original. Whether you keep it as 42/80 or simplify it, the value doesn’t change—it still equals the same percentage.
Knowing that 42/80 equals 52.50% can help when you compare parts of a whole, such as grades, scores, or any situation where you need a quick, easy‑to‑read figure. It’s a handy way to see that the fraction is just over half of the whole.