What is the numerical difference between the decimal number 0.6 and its percentage form 0.6% expressed as a decimal?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests the understanding of the difference between a decimal number and the same number interpreted as a percentage. Many learners confuse 0.6 with 0.6%, even though they represent very different magnitudes. Being able to convert percentages to decimals and vice versa is fundamental to solving a wide variety of aptitude and data interpretation problems, including profit and loss, interest, and ratio questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We have a decimal number 0.6.
• We also have 0.6% which is a percentage.
• We must first convert 0.6% into a decimal form.
• Then we must calculate the difference between 0.6 and 0.6% expressed as a decimal number.

Concept / Approach:
To convert a percentage to a decimal, we divide by 100. So x% = x / 100 in decimal form. Therefore, 0.6% is not 0.6, but 0.6 / 100. Once both quantities are in decimal form, we subtract the smaller from the larger to find the numerical difference. In this question, 0.6 is much larger than 0.6%, so the difference should be just slightly less than 0.6. This conceptual expectation helps verify the final calculation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write 0.6 as a decimal. It is already in decimal form: 0.6. Step 2: Convert 0.6% to decimal form. Use the formula: percentage / 100. Step 3: 0.6% as decimal = 0.6 / 100 = 0.006. Step 4: Now find the difference between 0.6 and 0.006. Step 5: Difference = 0.6 − 0.006 = 0.594. Step 6: Therefore, the required difference is 0.594.

Verification / Alternative check:
As a quick sense check, note that 0.6 is 600 times larger than 0.001, while 0.6% equals 0.006, which is only 1% of 0.6. So the difference should be close to 0.6, but slightly smaller. Our computed value 0.594 is indeed close to 0.6 and reasonable. If 0.6% had been incorrectly taken as 0.6, then the difference would have been 0, which clearly makes no sense because the question is contrasting a decimal with a percentage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 5.94 is ten times larger than 0.594 and would arise from wrongly multiplying instead of dividing by 10.
• 60 is obtained by multiplying by 100 instead of dividing, which is the opposite of what is required.
• 54 is also from confusing percentage and decimal positioning, and it ignores the actual scale of the numbers given.

Common Pitfalls:
A major mistake is treating 0.6% as 0.6, overlooking the division by 100. Another pitfall is misplacing the decimal point when converting from percent to decimal, for example writing 0.06 instead of 0.006. Some learners also reverse the order of subtraction, which would give a negative result, whereas the question simply asks for the difference, typically understood as a positive quantity. Careful conversion and consistent handling of decimals are essential.

Final Answer:
The difference between 0.6 and 0.6% is 0.594.