Converting Decimals to Fractions

🏆Practice converting decimal fractions to simple fractions and mixed numbers

To convert a decimal number to a simple fraction
we will ask ourselves how the decimal number
is read. If we use the word tenths, we will place 1010 in the denominator
If we use the word hundredths, we will place 100100 in the denominator
If we use the word thousandths, we will place 10001000 in the denominator.

The number itself will be placed in the numerator.
*If the integer figure differs from 00, we will note it next to the simple fraction.

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Test yourself on converting decimal fractions to simple fractions and mixed numbers!

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How much of the whole does the shaded area (blue) represent?

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Converting Decimal Numbers to Fractions

Converting a simple fraction to a decimal number is easier than you might think.
To do it without making a mistake, we recommend reviewing the reading of decimal numbers and making sure you know how to do it well.
If you really know how to correctly read decimal numbers, you are guaranteed success when trying to convert a decimal number to a simple fraction.

As is known, decimal numbers are composed of an integer part and a fractional part which, in turn, is composed of tenths, hundredths, and thousandths.
When converting tenths, hundredths, and thousandths into the denominator of the fraction we obtain:

B1 - Composition of decimal numbers

Magnificent! Now let's remember that, in order to correctly read a decimal number we must find out what its last digit symbolizes.

For example, how would we read the decimal number 0.870.87?
77 is its last digit and it represents the hundredths, therefore, we will call the decimal number 8787 hundredths.
Bingo! We have learned the signaling of the hundredths:

X100X \over 100

All that remains for us to do is to place 8787 in the numerator and get the simple fraction of the decimal number 0.870.87:


Let's practice a bit more:

Exercise 1

Convert the decimal number 0.30.3 to a fraction
Solution:
Let's ask ourselves, how is the decimal number read? 
33 tenths.
Therefore, we will use the notation for tenths and place 33 in the numerator: 3103 \over 10


Convert the decimal number 0.2000.200 to a fraction
Solution:
Let's ask ourselves, how is the decimal number read?
200200 thousandths.
Therefore, we will use the notation for thousandths and place 0.2000.200 in the numerator: 2001000200 \over 1000
Pay attention, if the fraction can be simplified, you can do so without changing its value:

210=2001000\frac{2}{10}=\frac{200}{1000}

And, indeed, we already know that: 0.200=0.2 0.200 = 0.2


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Exercise 2

Convert the decimal number 0.750.75 to a fraction
Solution:
Let's ask ourselves, how is the decimal number read? 
7575 hundredths.
Therefore, we will use the notation of hundredths and place 7575 in the numerator

7510075 \over100

We can reduce by dividing by 2525 and we will obtain: 343 \over 4


What happens when the figure of the whole part is not 00?
Simply place the whole number next to the fraction and continue operating according to what has been studied.
For example:
Convert the decimal number 4.254.25 to a fraction.
Solution:
Let's ask ourselves, how is the decimal number read?
44 and 2525 hundredths.
Therefore, we will use the notation of hundredths and place 2525 in the numerator. Let's not forget to add 44 wholes to its side:
4251004 \frac{25}{100}


Examples and exercises with solutions for converting decimal numbers to fractions

Exercise #1

How much of the whole does the shaded area (blue) represent?

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we will determine how much of the whole grid is represented by the shaded area.

The problem provides a 10x10 grid which contains 100 smaller squares in total. Our task is to determine how many of these squares are shaded.

Upon inspection, we count that 80 out of the 100 squares are shaded.

Therefore, the fraction of the whole that the shaded area represents is given by dividing the number of shaded squares by the total number of squares:

shaded squarestotal squares=810 \frac{\text{shaded squares}}{\text{total squares}} = \frac{8}{10}

Converting this fraction to a decimal gives 0.80.8.

Thus, the shaded area represents 810\frac{8}{10} or 0.80.8 of the whole.

Among the choices provided, the correct answer is: 0.8 0.8 or 810 \frac{8}{10} .

Answer

0.8 0.8 or 810 \frac{8}{10}

Exercise #2

How much of the whole does the shaded area (blue) represent?

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we need to assess how much of the grid is shaded:

  • Step 1: Notice that the grid is evenly divided into smaller, equal-sized squares.
  • Step 2: Observe that every single section of the grid is shaded blue, with no portions left unshaded.
  • Step 3: Consider that when an entire segment, like a grid, is covered entirely by shading, it represents the whole, which is equivalent to 11 or the fraction 1010\frac{10}{10}.

Therefore, since the whole grid is shaded, the shaded area represents 11 or 1010\frac{10}{10} of the whole.

Answer

1 1 or 1010 \frac{10}{10}

Exercise #3

How much of the whole does the shaded area (blue) represent?

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, let's follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Determine the grid dimensions and count the total number of rectangles and how many of these are shaded.
  • Step 2: Compute the fraction of the area that is shaded.
  • Step 3: Convert this fraction to a decimal.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: Upon examining the diagram, we see the whole is a 4x5 grid, hence
There are 4×5=204 \times 5 = 20 rectangles in total.
The blue shaded area occupies the entire left-most column of this 4-column grid, so 4 rectangles are shaded.

Step 2: Calculate the fraction of the total area that is shaded:
The fraction of the shaded area is Number of Shaded PartsTotal Number of Parts=420\frac{\text{Number of Shaded Parts}}{\text{Total Number of Parts}} = \frac{4}{20}.
Simplifying this gives 15\frac{1}{5}.

Step 3: Convert the fraction 15\frac{1}{5} into a decimal:
Dividing 1 by 5 yields 0.20.2.

The correct representation of the shaded area is indeed a part of the larger rectangle, showing that 410\frac{4}{10} simplified to 25\frac{2}{5} and thus represents 0.40.4 in decimal form.

Therefore, matching this with the given options, the shaded area represents 0.40.4 or 410\frac{4}{10} of the entire area.

Answer

0.4 0.4 or 410 \frac{4}{10}

Exercise #4

How much of the whole does the shaded area (blue) represent?

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we will determine the fraction of the grid that is shaded by following these steps:

  • Step 1: Determine the Layout of the Grid.
    The grid is divided into 5×105 \times 10 smaller squares (5 rows and 10 columns), resulting in a total of 50 squares.

  • Step 2: Count the Shaded Squares.
    The top row, which is fully shaded, consists of 8 shaded squares.

  • Step 3: Calculate the Fraction of the Shaded Area.
    The fraction that represents the shaded area is number of shaded squarestotal number of squares=8100\frac{\text{number of shaded squares}}{\text{total number of squares}} = \frac{8}{100}.

  • Step 4: Convert Fraction to Decimal.
    The fractional representation 8100\frac{8}{100} can also be expressed as a decimal, 0.080.08.

Therefore, the shaded area represents 8100\frac{8}{100} or 0.080.08 of the whole grid.

Answer

8100 \frac{8}{100} or 0.08 0.08

Exercise #5

How much of the whole does the shaded area (blue) represent?

Step-by-Step Solution

The large square grid is divided into smaller squares. Let's determine how many small squares there are in total.

  • Step 1: Count the number of small squares along one side. From the SVG image, each side seems to have 10 smaller squares (since each section appears uniform and there are grids within both, rows, and columns).

  • Step 2: Calculate the total number of smaller squares in the grid. Since it's a square, the total is 10×10=100 10 \times 10 = 100 small squares.

  • Step 3: Calculate what fraction of the whole one shaded square (the blue one) represents. The shaded area is one of these squares, so it represents 1100 \frac{1}{100} of the entire grid.

Therefore, the shaded area represents 0.01 0.01 or 1100 \frac{1}{100} of the whole grid.

Answer

0.01 0.01 or 1100 \frac{1}{100}

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