To convert a fraction to a decimal, you divide the numerator (the top number) by the denominator (the bottom number). This division converts the fraction into its decimal equivalent.
Detailed Explanation
- The fraction bar means "divided by," so the fraction ab\frac{a}{b}ba means a÷ba\div ba÷b.
- Use a calculator or perform long division to divide the numerator by the denominator.
- For example, 14\frac{1}{4}41 is 1÷4=0.251\div 4=0.251÷4=0.25.
- If the fraction is a mixed number, convert it to an improper fraction first, then divide.
- Sometimes, fractions result in repeating decimals (e.g., 13=0.333…\frac{1}{3}=0.333\ldots 31=0.333…).
Alternative Method
- If the denominator is a factor or multiple of 10, 100, 1000, etc., you can convert the fraction to an equivalent fraction with a denominator that is a power of 10, then write it as a decimal by placing the decimal point according to the number of zeros in the denominator.
- For example, 2125\frac{21}{25}2521 is equivalent to 84100\frac{84}{100}10084, which is 0.84 as a decimal.
This process works universally for any fraction to transform it into its decimal form. Thus, to summarize simply: divide the numerator by the denominator to get the decimal equivalent of a fraction.
