Convert Fractions to Decimals

The simplest method is to use a calculator.

	Just divide the top of the fraction by the bottom, and read off the answer !
	Example: What is 5/8 as a fraction?
	... get your calculator and type in "5 / 8 =", the answer should be 0.625

To convert a Fraction to a Decimal manually, follow these steps:

Example 1: Express 3/4 as a Decimal

Step 1: We can mulitply 4 by 25 to become 100

Step 2: Multiply top and bottom by 25:

×25
3	=	75
4		100
×25

Step 3: Write down 75 with the decimal place 2 spaces from the right (because 100 has 2 zeros);

Answer = 0.75

Example 2: Express 3/16 as a Decimal

Step 1: We have to mulitply 16 by 625 to become 10,000

Step 2: Multiply top and bottom by 625:

×625
3	=	1,875
16		10,000
×625

Step 3: Write down 1875 with the decimal place 4 spaces from the right (because 10,000 has 4 zeros);

Answer = 0.1875

Example 2: Express 1/3 as a Decimal

Step 1: There is no way to multiply 3 to become 10 or 100 or any power of 10, but we can calculate an approximate decimal by choosing to multiply by, say, 333

Step 2: Multiply top and bottom by 333:

×333
1	=	333
3		999
×333

Step 3: Now, 999 is nearly 1,000, so let us write down 333 with the decimal place 3 spaces from the right (because 1,000 has 3 zeros):

Answer = 0.333 (accurate to only 3 decimal places !!)