How to Convert a Fraction to a Decimal Notation Using a Calculator
The numerator of a fraction is its top number and the denominator is its bottom number. Fractions appear in a few different forms. A proper fraction has a smaller numerator than denominator--for example 4/5. An improper fraction has a larger numerator than denominator--for example 5/4. These fraction types are converted the same way. Conversely, a mixed fraction has a whole number in front--for example 1 4/5. Its conversion to decimal form requires one additional step.
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Instructions
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Calculating Proper and Improper Fractions
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1
Enter the top number of the fraction (the numerator) into the calculator. Then press the division key.
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2
Enter the bottom number of the fraction (the denominator) into the calculator.
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3
Press the "equals sign" key to get your answer in decimal form.
For example, to convert the fraction 4/5 into decimal form, enter 4, "/," 5, and then "=." 0.8 is returned.
Calculating Mixed Fractions
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4
Enter the whole number of the mixed fraction. Then hit the addition button "+."
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5
Enter the top number of the fraction (the numerator) into the calculator. Then press the division key.
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6
Enter the bottom number of the fraction (the denominator) into the calculator.
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7
Press the "equals sign" key to get your answer in decimal form.
For example, to convert the mixed fraction 1 4/5 into decimal form, enter 1, "+," 4, "/," 5, and then "=." The calculator returns 1.8.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Note that you may get a repeating decimal. For example, 1/9 returns 0.111111. Just because it stops at the end of the screen doesn't mean that the 1s don't keep going. They do. A less trivial example is 1/7, which comes back as 0.142857143. Actually, the 3 at the end is the result of rounding. If the number were to continue, then 2857 would be where you now see the 3. So the repeating decimals are 142857. They repeat an infinite number of times.
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