\( 74 \% \) is equivalent to what fraction in reduced terms?

To convert \( 74\% \) to a fraction, you start by expressing it as \( \frac{74}{100} \). To reduce this fraction, find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 74 and 100. The GCD is 2, so divide both the numerator and the denominator by 2, resulting in \( \frac{37}{50} \). Therefore, \( 74\% \) in reduced terms is \( \frac{37}{50} \). For those curious minds, percentages were first used in financial and commerce contexts during the Renaissance, leading to the widespread use of percentage-based calculations today. So every time you encounter a percentage, you’re tapping into a rich history of mathematics that has shaped economic transactions for centuries! Want to avoid mistakes? A common error when converting percentages to fractions is forgetting to represent the percentage as a fraction of 100. Always remember that the percentage symbol indicates an implicit denominator of 100! It’s also wise to double-check for opportunities to simplify your fractions for clearer, more efficient calculations.