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Convert Decimals to Fractions

To convert a Decimal to a Fraction follow these steps:

Step 1: Write down the decimal divided by 1.

Step 2: Multiply both top and bottom by 10 for every number after the decimal point. (For example, if there are two numbers after the decimal, then use 100, if there are three then use 1000, etc.)

Step 3: Simplify (or reduce) the fraction

Example 1: Express 0.75 as a fraction

Step 1: Write down:

0.75

Step 2: Multiply both top and bottom by 100 (becasue there were 2 digits after the decimal place):

× 100

0.75	=	75

1		100

× 100

(Do you see how it neatly turns the top number
into a whole number?)

Step 3: Simplify the fraction:

÷ 25

75	=	3

100		4

÷ 25

Answer = 3/4

Note: 75/100 is called a decimal fraction and 3/4 is called a common fraction !

Example 2: Express 0.625 as a fraction

Step 1: write down:

0.625

Step 2: multiply both top and bottom by 1,000 (there were 3 digits after the decimal place so that is 10×10×10=1,000)

625

1,000

Step 3: Simplify the fraction (it took me two steps here):

	÷ 25		÷ 5

625	=	25	=	5

1,000		40		8

	÷ 25		÷ 5

Answer = 5/8

Example 3: Express 0.333 as a fraction

Step 1: Write down:

0.333

Step 2: Multiply both top and bottom by 1,000 (there were 3 digits after the decimal place so that is 10×10×10=1,000)

333

1,000

Step 3: Simplify Fraction:

Can't get any simpler!

Answer = 333/1,000

But a Special Note:

If you really meant 0.333... (in other words 3s repeating forever which is called 3 recurring) then we need to follow a special argument. In this case we would write down:

0.333...

Then MULTIPLY both sides by 3:

× 3

0.333...	=	0.999...

1		3

× 3

And 0.999... = 1 (Does it? - see the 9 Recurring discussion for more if you are interested), so: