Convert Fraction to Decimal: Solving 2/10 Step by Step

Q: Why do I move the decimal point left instead of right?

When you divide by 10, the number gets smaller, so the decimal moves left. Think of it this way: $ \frac{2}{10} $ means 2 ÷ 10, which makes the number 10 times smaller!

Q: What if I don't see a decimal point in the numerator?

Every whole number has an invisible decimal point at the end! So 2 is really 2.0, and you can move that decimal point left to get 0.2.

Q: How do I know how many places to move the decimal?

Count the zeros in the denominator! For 10 (one zero), move 1 place left. For 100 (two zeros), move 2 places left, and so on.

Q: Do I always need the zero before the decimal point?

Yes! Writing 0.2 instead of just .2 makes it much clearer and follows proper mathematical notation. It prevents confusion and shows the decimal clearly.

Fraction to Decimal with Powers of 10

Write the following fraction as a decimal:

$\frac{2}{10}=$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Convert to decimal fraction

00:03 In a decimal fraction, take the numerator as a number

00:06 According to the denominator, move the decimal point

00:09 When the denominator equals 10, move the decimal point once to the left

00:15 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Write the following fraction as a decimal:

$\frac{2}{10}=$

Step-by-step solution

Let's write the simple fraction as a decimal fraction

$2.0$

Since the fraction divides by 10, we'll move the decimal point one place to the left and get:

$.2$

We'll complete the zero before the decimal point and get:

$0.2$

Final Answer

0.2

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: When denominator is 10, move decimal point one left
Technique: Convert 2 to 2.0, then move decimal: 2.0 → 0.2
Check: Verify 0.2 × 10 = 2, confirming the decimal conversion ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Moving the decimal point the wrong direction
Don't move the decimal point to the right when dividing by 10 = gives 20 instead of 0.2! This multiplies by 10 instead of dividing. Always move the decimal point LEFT when the denominator is a power of 10.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

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

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I move the decimal point left instead of right?

When you divide by 10, the number gets smaller, so the decimal moves left. Think of it this way: $\frac{2}{10}$ means 2 ÷ 10, which makes the number 10 times smaller!

What if I don't see a decimal point in the numerator?

Every whole number has an invisible decimal point at the end! So 2 is really 2.0, and you can move that decimal point left to get 0.2.

How do I know how many places to move the decimal?

Count the zeros in the denominator! For 10 (one zero), move 1 place left. For 100 (two zeros), move 2 places left, and so on.

Do I always need the zero before the decimal point?

Yes! Writing 0.2 instead of just .2 makes it much clearer and follows proper mathematical notation. It prevents confusion and shows the decimal clearly.

Can I check my answer by multiplying back?

Absolutely! Multiply your decimal answer by the denominator: $0.2 \times 10 = 2$ . If you get the original numerator, you're correct!

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