Basic example of rewriting a fraction as a decimal | Decimals | Pre-Algebra | Khan Academy

TL;DR

Learn how to convert the fraction 3/5 to a decimal, which is equal to 0.6.

Transcript

Let's see if we can write 3/5 as a decimal. And I encourage you to pause this video and think about if you can do it on your own. And I'll give you a hint here. Can we rewrite this fraction so, instead of it being in terms of fifths, it can be in terms of tenths? So I'm assuming you've given a go at it. Let's try to rewrite this as a fraction with ... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Visualizing fractions using representations such as shaded areas can make it easier to understand and convert them to decimals.
• 👻 Multiplying the numerator and denominator by the same number allows us to preserve the value of the fraction while simplifying it for decimal conversion.
• 🗂️ Converting fractions to decimals involves dividing the numerator by the denominator.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can I convert the fraction 3/5 to a decimal?

To convert 3/5 to a decimal, you can divide the numerator (3) by the denominator (5), resulting in 0.6.

Q: Why do we multiply the numerator and denominator by 2 when converting to tenths?

Multiplying the numerator and denominator of 3/5 by 2 allows us to convert fifths into tenths, making it easier to represent fractions as decimals in the tenths place.

Q: Is 0.6 the only decimal representation of 3/5?

No, 0.6 is one of the decimal representations of 3/5. It can also be represented as 0.60 or 0.600, depending on the desired level of precision.

Q: Can I convert any fraction to a decimal using this method?

Yes, this method can be used to convert any fraction to a decimal. By simplifying the fraction and expressing it as a multiple of a fraction with a power of 10 as the denominator, you can convert it to a decimal.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video explains how to convert the fraction 3/5 to a decimal using visual representation and simplifying the fraction.

• By dividing the numerator and denominator of 3/5 by 2, it can be rewritten as 6/10 or 6 times 1/10.

• The decimal representation of 6/10 is 0.6, which is equivalent to 3/5.