Review Topics for Success

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

  • Use the definition of percent
  • Write a percent as a ratio
  • Given a ratio, write as a percent and a fraction
  • .Convert a percent to a fraction
  • Convert a percent to a decimal
  • Convert a decimal to a percent
  • Convert a fraction to a percent
  • Solve percent equations for percent, amount, and base

This module and the next are both concerned with statistics: collecting and describing data. When faced with a research question of interest, the first thing statisticians do is to design a study and collect data. But the manner and method of observing members of a population can affect the outcome of the analysis. Researchers need to be careful to follow prescribed methodologies. The language and terminology of statistics reflects the constant effort of researchers to apply precise mathematical methods to imprecise problems in the real world. This module builds up much of the language you’ll need to begin a study of data analysis; you’ll need to learn terms and processes first before you can apply computational statistical techniques. You’ll notice that percentages feature heavily throughout our discussion of statistics, so take some time in this review module to practice manipulating and converting between percents, fractions, and decimals.

Recall for success

Look for red boxes like this one throughout the text. They’ll show up just in time to give helpful reminders of the math you’ll need, right where you’ll need it.