why is 0.5% not equal to 1/2?

It is not equal to 1/2 because. 5% is indeed a percent, and therefore a fraction of 100. If you were to rewrite. 5% as a fraction, you would write it as 5/100, which simplifies to 1/20, which is nowhere near 1/2. 50% or. 5 would be equal to 1/2.

because 1/2 is equal to 50%

0.5≠50