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How to Convert Decimals to Fractions With a Whole Number

Whole numbers count things. Decimals and fractions exist to describe the measure of quantities. Fractions and decimals make it possible to divide four things into five equal parts or even 147 things into 1,000 equal parts. Both fractions and decimals do the same job, but sometimes one representation is more convenient than the other. Fractions are harder to add than decimals, but the decimal representation of "1/3" is decidedly less concise. Inevitably, it becomes desirable to convert one form to the other.

Instructions

    • 1

      Transfer the whole number from one form to the other --- this is the easiest part. For example, the fraction 3 35/147 will translate a decimal notation of three-point-something, and a decimal 5.137 will become, in fractional notation, 5 and a fraction.

    • 2

      Calculate the decimal from the fraction by dividing the denominator of the fraction into the numerator. For example 3 35/64 translates to 3.55 because 64 divided into 35 is 0.55.

    • 3

      Change a non-repeating decimal into a fraction by reducing the obvious fraction. For example 0.5 is really 5/10, 0.33 is really 33/100 and 0.147 is really 147/1,000. All you need to do to convert the decimal to a fraction is to reduce the obvious fraction. The good news is that powers of 10 --- like 10, 100 and 1,000 --- only have two and five as prime divisors. For example, 3.147 converts to 3 147/1,000 because 147 is not divisible by either two or five. On the other hand, 1.35 converts to 1 7/20 because 35/100 = (5 X 7) / (5 X 20) = 7/20.

    • 4

      Use a standard algebraic trick to convert a repeating decimal to a fraction. To convert 2.353535... --- the elipses means the 35 repeats --- to a fraction, let X = 0.353535..., so 100X = 35.353535..., and 100X - X = 35; so 99X = 35 and X = 35/99. Therefore 2.353535... converts to 2 35/99.

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