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 decimal ... ?

calculator

... get your calculator and type in "5 / 8 ="

The answer should be 0.625

No Calculator? Use Long Division to Decimal Places

Example: here is what long division of 5 8 looks like:


    0.625
 8 )5.000
    0
    5.0
    4.8
      20
      16
       40
       40
        0

In that case we inserted extra zeros and did 5.000 8 to get 0.625

Read the Long Division to Decimal Places page for more details.

Another Method

Yet another method you may like is to follow these steps:

Example: Convert 3 4 to a Decimal

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

Step 2: Multiply top and bottom by 25:

×25
right over arrow
3 4  =  75 100
right under arrow
×25

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

Answer = 0.75

Example: Convert 3 16 to a Decimal

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

Step 2: Multiply top and bottom by 625:

×625
right over arrow
3 16  =  1,875 10,000
right under arrow
×625

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

Answer = 0.1875

Example: Convert 1 3 to a Decimal

Step 1: There is no way to multiply 3 to become 10 or 100 or any "1 followed by 0s", but we can calculate an approximate decimal by choosing to multiply by, say, 333

Step 2: Multiply top and bottom by 333:

×333
right over arrow
1 3  =  333 999
right under arrow
×333

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

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

 

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