<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >
This module is from Fundamentals of Mathematics by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. This module discusses how to covert a decimal to a fraction. By the end of the module students should be able to convert an ordinary decimal and a complex decimal to a fraction.

Section overview

  • Converting an Ordinary Decimal to a Fraction
  • Converting a Complex Decimal to a Fraction

Converting an ordinary decimal to a fraction

We can convert a decimal fraction to a fraction, essentially, by saying it in words, then writing what we say. We may have to reduce that fraction.

Sample set a

Convert each decimal fraction to a proper fraction or a mixed number.

6 is in the tenths position of 0.6

Reading: six tenths→ 6 10 size 12{ { {6} over {10} } } {} .

Reduce: 3 5 size 12{ { {3} over {5} } } {} .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

3 is in the thousandths position of 0.903

Reading: nine hundred three thousands→ 903 1000 size 12{ { {"903"} over {"1000"} } } {} .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

1 is in the hundredths position of 18.61

Reading: eighteen and sixty-one hundredths→ 18 61 100 size 12{"18" { {"61"} over {"100"} } } {} .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

5 is in the ten thousandths position of 508.0005

Reading: five hundred eight and five ten thousandths→ 508 5 10 , 000 size 12{"508" { {5} over {"10","000"} } } {} .

Reduce: 508 1 2, 000 size 12{"508" { {1} over {2,"000"} } } {} .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Practice set a

Convert the following decimals to fractions or mixed numbers. Be sure to reduce.

16.84

16 21 25 size 12{"16" { {"21"} over {"25"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

0.513

513 1, 000 size 12{ { {"513"} over {1,"000"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

6,646.0107

6, 646 107 10 , 000 size 12{6,"646" { {"107"} over {"10","000"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

1.1

1 1 10 size 12{1 { {1} over {"10"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Converting a complex decimal to a fraction

Complex decimals

Numbers such as 0 . 11 2 3 size 12{0 "." "11" { {2} over {3} } } {} are called complex decimals . We can also convert com­plex decimals to fractions.

Sample set b

Convert the following complex decimals to fractions.

0 . 11 2 3 size 12{0 "." "11" { {2} over {3} } } {}

The 2 3 size 12{ { {2} over {3} } } {} appears to occur in the thousands position, but it is referring to 2 3 size 12{ { {2} over {3} } } {} of a hundredth. So, we read 0 . 11 2 3 size 12{0 "." "11" { {2} over {3} } } {} as "eleven and two-thirds hundredths."

0.11 2 3 = 11 2 3 100 = 11 3 + 2 3 100 = 35 3 100 1 = 35 3 ÷ 100 1 = 35 7 3 1 100 20 = 7 60

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

4 . 006 1 4 size 12{4 "." "006" { {1} over {4} } } {}

Note that 4 . 006 1 4 = 4 + . 006 1 4 size 12{4 "." "006" { {1} over {4} } =4+ "." "006" { {1} over {4} } } {}

4 + .006 1 4 = 4 + 6 1 4 1000 = 4 + 25 4 1000 1 = 4 + 25 1 4 1 1000 40 = 4 + 1 1 4 40 = 4 + 1 160 = 4 1 160

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Practice set b

Convert each complex decimal to a fraction or mixed number. Be sure to reduce.

0 . 8 3 4 size 12{0 "." 8 { {3} over {4} } } {}

7 8 size 12{ { {7} over {8} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

0 . 12 2 5 size 12{0 "." "12" { {2} over {5} } } {}

31 250 size 12{ { {"31"} over {"250"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

6 . 005 5 6 size 12{6 "." "005" { {5} over {6} } } {}

6 7 1, 200 size 12{6 { {7} over {1,"200"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

18 . 1 3 17 size 12{"18" "." 1 { {3} over {"17"} } } {}

18 2 17 size 12{"18" { {2} over {"17"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Exercises

For the following 20 problems, convert each decimal fraction to a proper fraction or a mixed number. Be sure to reduce.

0.7

7 10 size 12{ { {7} over {"10"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

0.53

53 100 size 12{ { {"53"} over {"100"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

0.219

219 1, 000 size 12{ { {"219"} over {1,"000"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

4.8

4 4 5 size 12{4 { {4} over {5} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

16.12

16 3 25 size 12{"16" { {3} over {"25"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

6.0005

6 1 2, 000 size 12{6 { {1} over {2,"000"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

16.125

16 1 8 size 12{"16" { {1} over {8} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

3.04

3 1 25 size 12{3 { {1} over {"25"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

8.225

8 9 40 size 12{8 { {9} over {"40"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

9.99995

9 19 , 999 20 , 000 size 12{9 { {"19","999"} over {"20","000"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

For the following 10 problems, convert each complex decimal to a fraction.

0 . 7 1 2 size 12{0 "." 7 { {1} over {2} } } {}

3 4 size 12{ { {3} over {4} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

0 . 012 1 2 size 12{0 "." "012" { {1} over {2} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

2 . 16 1 4 size 12{2 "." "16" { {1} over {4} } } {}

2 13 80 size 12{2 { {"13"} over {"80"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

5 . 18 2 3 size 12{5 "." "18" { {2} over {3} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

14 . 112 1 3 size 12{"14" "." "112" { {1} over {3} } } {}

14 337 3, 000 size 12{"14" { {"337"} over {3,"000"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

80 . 0011 3 7 size 12{"80" "." "0011" { {3} over {7} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

1 . 40 5 16 size 12{1 "." "40" { {5} over {"16"} } } {}

1 129 320 size 12{1 { {"129"} over {"320"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

0 . 8 5 3 size 12{0 "." 8 { {5} over {3} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

1 . 9 7 5 size 12{1 "." 9 { {7} over {5} } } {}

2 1 25 size 12{2 { {1} over {"25"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

1 . 7 37 9 size 12{1 "." 7 { {"37"} over {9} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Exercises for review

( [link] ) Find the greatest common factor of 70, 182, and 154.

14

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Find the greatest common multiple of 14, 26, and 60.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Find the value of 3 5 15 18 ÷ 5 9 size 12{ { {3} over {5} } cdot { {"15"} over {"18"} } div { {5} over {9} } } {} .

9 10 size 12{ { {9} over {"10"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Find the value of 5 2 3 + 8 1 12 size 12{5 { {2} over {3} } +8 { {1} over {"12"} } } {} .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) In the decimal number 26.10742, the digit 7 is in what position?

thousandths

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Fundamentals of mathematics. OpenStax CNX. Aug 18, 2010 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10615/1.4
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Fundamentals of mathematics' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask