Fractions and decimal numbers are just two different ways to represent numbers less than one. Since any number under one can be represented by either a fraction or a decimal, there are special mathematical equations that allow you to find the decimal equivalent of a fraction, and vice versa.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Understanding Fractions and Decimals
Step 1. Understand the parts of the fraction and the meaning of the parts
Fractions consist of three parts: the numerator which is the top half of the fraction, the dash like the bisector that goes between the two numbers, and the denominator which is the bottom half of the fraction.
- The denominator expresses the number of equal parts in a whole. For example, a pizza can be divided into 8 slices. So, the denominator of the pizza is "8". If you divide the same pizza into 12 slices, the denominator is 12. Both examples represent the same pizza, just divided in different ways.
- The numerator expresses a part or parts of the whole. One slice of pizza will be denoted by the numerator "1". Four slices of pizza will be denoted by the numerator "4".
Step 2. Understand what decimal numbers represent
Decimal does not use a dash to define the part of the whole it represents. However, the decimal point to the left of the numbers indicates that the numbers are less than one. With decimals, the whole value is assumed to be 10, 100, 1000, etc., depending on the number of places to the right of the decimal number.
Often, decimal readings are almost the same as fraction readings in English. For example, 0.05 is generally read aloud as five-hundredths, which is the same as 5/100 which is also read as five-hundredths. However, in Indonesian, the reading of decimals and fractions is different. Decimals are read as zero point zero five, while fractions are read as five hundredths. Fractions are denoted by numbers placed to the right of the decimal point
Step 3. Understand the relationship between fractions and decimals
Fractions and decimals are just different representations or writings for values less than one. The fact that these two spellings are used for many of the same things means that you often have to change their spelling to add, subtract, or compare them.
Part 2 of 4: Converting Fractions To Decimals Using Division
Step 1. Think of a fraction as a math problem
The easiest way to convert a fraction to a decimal is to read the fraction as if it were a division problem, with the number on top divided by the number on the bottom.
For example, the fraction 2/3 can also be expressed as 2 divided by 3
Step 2. Divide the numerator of the fraction by the denominator of the fraction
You can do these math problems in your head, especially if the numerator and fraction are multiples of each other, with a calculator, or with long division.
An easy way to do this is to put the denominator (in example 1 divided by 2, 2 is the denominator) at the bottom and the numerator (1 is the numerator in example 1 divided by 2) at the top. Thus, 1 divided by 2 equals half (1/2)
Step 3. Double-check your calculations
Multiply the decimal equivalent you got by the denominator of your initial fraction. Your product should be the numerator of your original fraction.
Part 3 of 4: Converting Fractions with "Multiple of 10" Denominators
Step 1. Try another way to convert fractions to decimals
This will help you understand the relationship between fractions and decimals, as well as improve your other basic math skills.
Step 2. Understand the denominators with multiples of 10
A denominator with a "multiple of 10" is a denominator of any positive number that can be multiplied to produce a multiple of 10. The numbers 1,000 or 1,000,000 are multiples of 10, but in most practical applications of this method, you will probably only use numbers like 10 or 100.
Step 3. Learn to find the easiest fraction to convert
Any fraction that has 5 as its denominator is an obvious candidate, but fractions that have a denominator of 25 are also easy to change. Any number that already has an exponent of 10 as its denominator is very easy to change.
Step 4. Multiply your fraction by another fraction
This second fraction will have a denominator that results in a multiple of 10 when the two denominators are multiplied. The number at the top of this second fraction (the numerator) will be the same as the denominator. This makes the second fraction equal to one.
- It is a basic rule of mathematics that multiplying any number by one does not change its value. This means that when we multiply our initial fraction by a fraction that is equal to one, we don't change the value, but we only change the way we express the value.
- For example, the fraction 2/2 is actually equal to 1 (because 2 divided by itself equals 1). If you're trying to convert 1/5 to a fraction with a denominator of 10, multiply by 2/2. The result is 2/10.
- To multiply two fractions, just multiply directly. Multiply the two numerators and turn the product into the answer's numerator. Then multiply the denominators and turn the product into the answer's denominator. You will have a new shard.
Step 5. Convert fractions with your "multiples of 10" to decimals
Take the numerator of this new fraction and rewrite the numerator with a decimal point at the end. Now, look at the denominator and count the number of zeros in the number. Next, move the decimal point in your rewritten numerator to the left as many zeros as there are in the denominator.
- For example, you have the number 2/10. Your denominator has one zero. So, we start by rewriting "2" as "2", (this doesn't change the number value) and then, we move the decimal one place to the left. The result is "0, 2".
- You'll quickly learn how to do this with a variety of numbers with easy denominators. After a while, this process becomes quite easy. You're just looking for a fraction with a multiple of 10 (or one that can be directly converted to a multiple of 10) and converting the top number to a decimal.
Part 4 of 4: Remembering the Decimal Equivalence of Important Fractions
Step 1. Convert some common fractions that you use regularly to decimals
You can do this by dividing the numerator by the denominator (top number by bottom number), as was done in the second part of this article.
- Some basic fractions and decimal conversions you should remember are 1/4 = 0, 25, 1/2 = 0.5, and 3/4 = 0.75.
- If you want to convert fractions very quickly, all you have to do is use an internet search engine to find the answer. For example, you can type "decimal 1/4" or something similar.
Step 2. Make a flash card with a fraction on one side and its decimal equivalent on the other
Practicing with these cards will help you remember fractions and their decimal equivalents.
Step 3. Recall the decimal equivalent of a fraction from your memory
This can be very useful for fractions that you use regularly.
