How can we use the concept: There are two methods to convert a fraction to a decimal
1. Using long division (this one is most common and can be used for students who are comfortable with long division).
- Divide the numerator by the denominator
- Keep dividing by adding a decimal point and then zeros after that
- Depending on the numbers, you might keep dividing. In this case check to see what decimal place you should round to.
Example:
as a decimal.
2. Converting the denominator to a multiple of 10 (this method is good when introducing the concept to students- this should be a second strategy, as not all denominators can be converted to a multiple of 10).
- Find any number that you can multiply the denominator by to make it a multiple of 10 (10, 100, 100, etc.)
- Multiply BOTH the numerator and denominator by that number
- Then write down the numerator of the new fraction as a decimal (put the decimal point one space from the right hand side for every zero that the denominator has.)
Example:
as a decimal.
Since 100 has two zeros, the decimal point will jump two to the left making the decimal 0.25.
Sample Math Problems
1.
as a decimal.
