About Fraction to Decimal
Fractions, decimals and percentages describe the same thing in three different languages: a share of a whole. School marks and discounts use percentages, measurements and money use decimals, and recipes, spanners and shares of ownership stay in fractions.
This page converts fractions to decimals and shows the working, so the method is clear the next time you have to do it on paper. Mixed numbers such as 1 1/2 are accepted, and repeating decimals are matched to the closest simple fraction rather than left as a long string of digits.
How it works
A fraction, a decimal and a percentage are three ways of writing the same quantity. Turning fractions into decimals takes three steps:
- Divide the numerator by the denominator.
- For a mixed number, convert the fraction part first, then add the whole number.
- A denominator made only of 2s and 5s gives an exact decimal; anything else repeats.
Going the other way is Decimal to Fraction.
Examples
Worked examples:
- 3/8 → 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375
- 1 1/2 → 1 + (1 ÷ 2) = 1.5
- 2/3 → 2 ÷ 3 = 0.6667 (repeating)
| Fraction | Decimal | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 0.5 | 50% |
| 1/3 | 0.333… | 33.33% |
| 2/3 | 0.666… | 66.67% |
| 1/4 | 0.25 | 25% |
| 3/4 | 0.75 | 75% |
| 1/5 | 0.2 | 20% |
| 1/8 | 0.125 | 12.5% |
| 3/8 | 0.375 | 37.5% |
| 5/8 | 0.625 | 62.5% |
| 1/10 | 0.1 | 10% |
| 1/16 | 0.0625 | 6.25% |
Fraction to Decimal: frequently asked questions
- How do you convert a fraction to a decimal?
- Divide the top number (numerator) by the bottom number (denominator). 3/4 = 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75.
- Why do some fractions give repeating decimals?
- If the denominator (in lowest terms) has a prime factor other than 2 or 5, the decimal repeats forever. For example, 1/3 = 0.333… and 2/11 = 0.1818…
- What is 5/8 as a decimal?
- 5/8 = 0.625.