17. A clown has 100 balloons. She uses 56 of the balloons to make animals. What portion of the balloons does she use? Write your answer as a decimal.

The clown uses 56 out of her 100 balloons, which means she uses 0.56 of them. Just divide the number of balloons used (56) by the total number of balloons (100) to get the decimal form: 56 ÷ 100 = 0.56. Fascinating, isn't it? That's just over half of her colorful treasures! In the world of math, understanding fractions and decimals can help us tackle real-life scenarios. For example, if our friendly clown wanted to throw a party, knowing what portion of her balloons she’s used helps her plan how many more she might need for decorations, games, or to make more animals! It's all about maximizing the fun!