Unit 1: Fractions and Decimals.

ACTIVITIES 4

Mathematics - 3 ESO

UNIT 1: Fractions and Decimals

Converting Fractions to Decimal Numbers
To obtain the decimal number which is related to a fraction we only have to divide the numerator by the denominator:

Note the following important property of the rational numbers. Every rational number, every fraction, when expressed as a decimal number will be either a terminating or a recurring (or repeating) decimal number.

Decimal Numbers

Decimal Part

The fraction in its lowest terms

Terminating It Does not go on If the only factors of the denominator are 2 or 5 or or Exact forever.

3.75

combinations of 2 and 5 then the You can write fraction will be a terminating decimal. down all its digits 45 15 15 = = = 3.75 12 4 2

Recurring or Repeating

It Does forever.

go

on If the denominator hasnt any 2 or

5 factors then the fraction will be a recurring decimal. 25 5 5 = = = 0.555 45 9 3

0.555 2.0666

It Repeats a block of digits.

If the denominator has any factors other than 2 and/or 5 then the fraction will be a recurring decimal. 62 31 31 = = = 2.066 30 15 3 5

IES Albayzn (Granada)

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Unit 1: Fractions and Decimals. ACTIVITIES 4

Mathematics - 3 ESO

Converting Decimal Numbers to Fractions

To convert a terminating decimal number to a quotient of integers, we observe the last digit to the right of the decimal point. The position of this digit will indicate the denominator of the quotient of integers. The numerator will be the decimal number without the decimal point.

As the numerator, we use the decimal number without the decimal point,

483 4.8 = 100

whole part + decimal part without dot.

3 hundredths means 100 as a denominator

As the denominator, we use 10, 100, 1000, according to the number of the decimal places.

Converting a repeating decimal number to a quotient of integers is more difficult than converting a terminating decimal. When the repeating digits are directly to the right of the decimal point, as the number 6. 21, we use the following algorithm.

Whole part + decimal part without decimal point.

As the numerator

6. 21 =

621 6 99

Whole part

As the denominator: we use 9, 99, 999, according to the number of repeating digits.

IES Albayzn (Granada)

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Unit 1: Fractions and Decimals. ACTIVITIES 4

Mathematics - 3 ESO

Sometimes the repeating digits are not directly to the right of the decimal point. For example 12.142; then we have to follow the algorithm below.

Whole part + decimal part without decimal point.

As the numerator

12.142 =

12142 1214 900

Whole part and non-repeating decimal part

As the denominator: we use as many nines as repeating digits after the decimal point, and as many zeroes as non-repeating digits.

IES Albayzn (Granada)

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Unit 1: Fractions and Decimals. ACTIVITIES 4

Mathematics - 3 ESO

ACTIVITIES

IES Albayzn (Granada)

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