Navigating Fractions and Decimals: Conversions and Operations

Introduction to Fractions and Decimals

Fractions and decimals are two ways of representing parts of a whole. Understanding how to work with and convert between these representations is crucial in arithmetic.

Converting Between Fractions and Decimals

Fraction to Decimal

1. Divide the numerator by the denominator
2. Express the result as a decimal

Example: 3/4 = 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75

Decimal to Fraction

1. Write the decimal as a fraction with a denominator of 10, 100, 1000, etc.
2. Simplify the fraction, if possible

Example: 0.5 = 5/10 = 1/2

Arithmetic Operations with Fractions and Decimals

Addition and Subtraction

1. Convert both numbers to the same form (fraction or decimal)
2. Perform the operation
3. Simplify the result, if possible

Multiplication

1. Multiply the numerators (or decimals)
2. Multiply the denominators (if fractions)
3. Simplify the result, if possible

Division

1. Convert both numbers to the same form (fraction or decimal)
2. Divide the dividend by the divisor
3. Simplify the result, if possible

Real-world Applications

Fractions and decimals are used in various aspects of life, including:

1. Cooking: Measuring ingredients
2. Finance: Interest rates and investments
3. Science: Measuring quantities and ratios

Mastering fractions and decimals will help you tackle everyday problems with confidence.