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Course: Grade 6 (VA SOL) > Unit 4
Lesson 2: Converting fractions to decimals- Fractions, decimals, & percentages FAQ
- Rewriting decimals as fractions: 2.75
- Write decimals as fractions
- Rewriting decimals as fractions challenge
- Worked example: Converting a fraction (7/8) to a decimal
- Fraction to decimal: 11/25
- Fraction to decimal with rounding
- Converting fractions to decimals
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Fractions, decimals, & percentages FAQ
Frequently asked questions about fractions, decimals, and percentages
What's the difference between a terminating and repeating decimal?
A terminating decimal is one that ends. For example, we can write as the decimal , which has just two decimal places. A repeating decimal, on the other hand, goes on forever. For example, we can write as the decimal , where the keeps repeating. Sometimes we use an overline to show which digits are repeating. So we could write as .
Every simplified rational fraction where the denominator has factors other than and will be a repeating decimal. Sometimes, the repeating part is longer than one digit. For example, we can write as the decimal or .
We can compare terminating and repeating decimals in a similar way as we compare two terminating decimals. We start from the largest place value, then compare each place value from left to right until we find one where the numbers differ.
For example, let's compare and . The two decimals both have ones and tenths. However, has hundredths, and has hundredths. So .
Try it yourself with our Converting fractions to decimals exercise.
How do we calculate percent increase and decrease?
To find the percent increase or decrease, we need two numbers: the original number and the new number. We divide the difference between the two by the original number. We'll get our value in decimal or fraction form, and we can rewrite it as a percent from there.
For example, if we start with and increase to , we'd find:
That was a positive change, so we had a increase.
On the other hand, if we start with and decrease to , we'd find:
That was a negative change, so we had a decrease.
Try it yourself with our Percent problems exercise.
How can writing percent expressions in different ways be helpful?
Writing equivalent forms of percent expressions can let us choose the form that makes the context clearest or that is easiest for us to calculate.
Suppose we wanted to find the price of a sewing machine after an discount. If the sewing machine originally cost dollars, we could represent the price after the discount like this:
Writing it that way makes it clear that we're taking away a percentage. If we wanted to make it faster to calculate, we might write the same amount like this:
Then we only have one operation to calculate, but the subtraction is less obvious.
Other times, we use a different form to help us use mental math. For example, suppose that there were of rain last year, but this year, it rained as much. We could write that as , but some people find it easier to calculate . They both mean the same thing, so use the one that works best for you!
Try it yourself with our Equivalent expressions with percent problems exercise.
Want to join the conversation?
- who created math?(77 votes)
- im using all my brainpower and i still dont understand(46 votes)
- why is it important(20 votes)
- What does this mean?!(17 votes)
- What if I don't understand how to do it?(13 votes)
- ask someone else you know. i would recommend your school teacher or a classmate, or your parents/guardians.(14 votes)
- why is this important(11 votes)
- Finish reading the article and you might find out why.(16 votes)
- just gonna act like I understand this...(14 votes)
- If you break it down into smaller parts, and try to understand each part, then you may get the big picture.
For example, to learn what percentage increase/decrease is, break it down into smaller, more manageable chunks.
Where it says: "We divide the difference between the two by the original number." Let's say we have 20 dollars, and it increased to 30 dollars. Now, we need to find how much it has increased but in percentage (aka the percentage increase)
It first says "We divide the difference", meaning we first need to know the difference between the two numbers, so we can divide them. for the example our answer would be 10. (30-20=10), (ps. the new number, or the amount of money we have now is the first number we subtract by, and the original number, or the amount we started with, is the second number we subtract by.)
Now, since we know the difference (10), we can divide it by the original number (20) as it says. ("We divide the difference between the two by the original number.") which would give us 0.5. (10/20= 0.5)
But, that isn't a percentage, is it? So, we need to turn 0.5 into a percentage. To do that we need to multiply 0.5 by 100, which gives us 50 (0.5x100= 50) (ps. if you do not know how to turn numbers/decimals/fractions into percentages, it is wise to learn that before this, or it will be confusing)
So, the answer is 50%! See how much easier it is to break it down into smaller steps? I hope this helped you, and if you have any more questions, please let me know!(1 vote)
- how did you figure out that 1.2 is the same as 6/5(9 votes)
- You have to know that 0.2 is 1/5, so 1.2 is 1 1/5, which is the same as 6/5. Or you can simplify the fraction: 120/100 = 12/10 = 6/5.(9 votes)
- I just read this, I think my brain exploded(11 votes)
- As for the first part, a terminating decimal, ends. by the way we can turn a fraction into a decimal by using the DENOMINATOR as a divisor. For exp. 3/10 would be 0.3 termination means ending. So when we do 3 out of 10 we get a decimal, since it doesn't distribute evenly, or in other words 10 can't go to 3 evenly, so we add 0. to signify it as a decimal then we add an invisible zero. Tbh, it's much easier to explain with paper so I'd recommend looking into it if ur confused still. But yeah 3/10 turns into 0.3, (all numbers to 9 are like this exp 4/10=0.4 5/10=0.5 6/10=0.6) So now you know how to convert a fraction into a decimal and what a terminating decimal is. Remember terminating means ending. Whereas repeating means well the opposite. A repeating decimal is never-ending. It goes to infinity. For exp. 1/9 converted is 0.2222222...now notice how it doesnt end? But imagine having to write 0.2222222...on ur paper. U can't! Because it never ends. So instead we put a line over our decimal. To signify it's never-ending. Now I'd say make it 0.22 or 0.222 WITH A LINE ON TOP. DONT forget that!(3 votes)