Sienna's bank account earns \( 4.5 \% \) interest. Write this percent as a fraction in simplest form.

To convert \( 4.5\% \) to a fraction, start by rewriting it as \( \frac{4.5}{100} \). Next, to eliminate the decimal, multiply the numerator and the denominator by 10, transforming it to \( \frac{45}{1000} \). Simplifying this fraction involves dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 5. This gives you \( \frac{9}{200} \). Thus, \( 4.5\% \) as a fraction in simplest form is \( \frac{9}{200} \). When dealing with percentages, remember they represent parts per hundred! It can be super useful in everyday situations, like calculating tips at restaurants or discounts during shopping. Knowing how to convert these percentages into fractions helps clarify how much you're really saving or spending in those situations. So next time you're at the store, impress your friends by saying, "I just saved \( \frac{9}{200} \) of my budget!"