Converting Decimals to Fractions or Mixed Numbers

Converting Decimals to Fractions or Mixed Numbers

We often need to rewrite decimals as fractions or mixed numbers. Let’s go back to our lunch order to see how we can convert decimal numbers to fractions. We know that \(\text{\$5.03}\) means \(5\) dollars and \(3\) cents. Since there are \(100\) cents in one dollar, \(3\) cents means \(\frac{3}{100}\) of a dollar, so \(0.03=\frac{3}{100}.\)

We convert decimals to fractions by identifying the place value of the farthest right digit. In the decimal \(0.03,\) the \(3\) is in the hundredths place, so \(100\) is the denominator of the fraction equivalent to \(0.03.\)

For our \(\text{\$5.03}\) lunch, we can write the decimal \(5.03\) as a mixed number.

Notice that when the number to the left of the decimal is zero, we get a proper fraction. When the number to the left of the decimal is not zero, we get a mixed number.

Example

Write each of the following decimal numbers as a fraction or a mixed number:

1. \(\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}4.09\)
2. \(\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}3.7\)
3. \(\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}-0.286\)

Solution

	4.09
There is a 4 to the left of the decimal point. Write "4" as the whole number part of the mixed number.
Determine the place value of the final digit.
Write the fraction. Write 9 in the numerator as it is the number to the right of the decimal point.
Write 100 in the denominator as the place value of the final digit, 9, is hundredth.
The fraction is in simplest form.

Did you notice that the number of zeros in the denominator is the same as the number of decimal places?

	3.7
There is a 3 to the left of the decimal point. Write "3" as the whole number part of the mixed number.
Determine the place value of the final digit.
Write the fraction. Write 7 in the numerator as it is the number to the right of the decimal point.
Write 10 in the denominator as the place value of the final digit, 7, is tenths.
The fraction is in simplest form.

	−0.286
There is a 0 to the left of the decimal point. Write a negative sign before the fraction.
Determine the place value of the final digit and write it in the denominator.
Write the fraction. Write 286 in the numerator as it is the number to the right of the decimal point. Write 1,000 in the denominator as the place value of the final digit, 6, is thousandths.
We remove a common factor of 2 to simplify the fraction.

Optional Video: Writing a Decimal as a Simplified Fraction