Fractions and decimals are two ways of representing numbers that are not whole. Fractions use a numerator and a denominator to show the ratio of parts to a whole, while decimals use a decimal point and digits to show the value of each place value. In this blog post, we will learn how to convert 5/8 to a decimal using different methods.
Method 1: Divide the Numerator by the Denominator
One way to convert 5/8 to a decimal is to divide the numerator (5) by the denominator (8) using long division or a calculator. This will give us the quotient (0.625) and the remainder (0). The quotient is the decimal equivalent of 5/8, and the remainder tells us if there is any fraction left over. Since the remainder is 0, there is no fraction left over, and 5/8 is equal to 0.625 as a decimal.
Method 2: Multiply by an Equivalent Fraction
Another way to convert 5/8 to a decimal is to multiply by an equivalent fraction that has a power of 10 as the denominator. A power of 10 is a number that can be written as 10 raised to some exponent, such as 10, 100, 1000, etc. For example, we can multiply 5/8 by 125/125, which is an equivalent fraction because both the numerator and the denominator are the same. This will give us:
58×125125=6251000
Now, we can write 625/1000 as a decimal by moving the decimal point three places to the left, since there are three zeros in the denominator. This will give us 0.625 as a decimal.
Method 3: Use a Fraction to Decimal Chart
A third way to convert 5/8 to a decimal is to use a fraction to decimal chart that shows the decimal equivalents of common fractions. A fraction to decimal chart can be found online or in some math textbooks. To use a fraction to decimal chart, we need to find the row that corresponds to the numerator (5) and the column that corresponds to the denominator (8). The intersection of the row and column will show us the decimal equivalent of 5/8, which is 0.625.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have learned three methods to convert 5/8 to a decimal: dividing the numerator by the denominator, multiplying by an equivalent fraction with a power of 10 as the denominator, and using a fraction to decimal chart. All three methods will give us the same answer: 0.625. We can check our answer by converting 0.625 back to a fraction using the reverse process of any of these methods. For example, we can multiply 0.625 by 1000/1000 and simplify the resulting fraction:
0.625×10001000=6251000=58
This confirms that 5/8 is equal to 0.625 as a decimal.
