MathMaster Blog

Fractions and decimals are the ways to represent numbers. Fractions are written in the form of (p/q), where q≠0. In decimals, the whole number part and fractional part are connected through a decimal point.

Converting decimals to fractions

• Step 1: Write down the decimal divided by 1: $\frac{decimal}{1}$
• Step 2: Multiply both top and bottom by 10 for every number after the decimal point. If there are two numbers after the decimal point, then use 100, if there are three then use 1000, etc.
• Step 3: Simplify the fraction.

Example 1:

Convert 0.625 to a fraction.

Solution:

Step1:

Write down the decimal divided by 1:

$\frac{0.625}{1}$

Step2:

Multiply both top and bottom by 1.000

(3 digits after the decimal point, => 10 × 10 × 10 = 1.000)

$\frac{625}{1000}$

Step3:

Simplify the fraction

$\frac{625}{1000} = \frac{5}{8}$

Answer: 0.625 = $\frac{5}{8}$

Converting fractions to decimals

Divide the top of the fraction by its bottom. Use the long division method if you can’t use the calculator.

Example:

Convert $\frac{3}{8}$ to decimal.

Solution:

Answer: 0.375