The fraction ½ can also be written as the decimal 0.5.
Any fraction can be written as a decimal.
This worksheet shows how to convert a simple fraction to its decimal equivalent.
The fraction ½ can be read to mean 1 whole divided into 2 parts, i.e. 1 ÷ 2.
We can divide 1 by 2, in a division calculation, but first we change 1 to 1.0.
This is to give more space to carry out the division, so that we can put remainders in the division.
This shows that ½ = 1 ÷ 2 = 0.5.
Example
Change the fraction 3/8 to a decimal.
Answer
3/8 is the same as 3 ÷ 8.
Here we change 3 to 3.000 to allow space for remainders when we divide.
The answer is 0.375
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Teacher explanation