How to Make Fractions With Decimals Into Fractions With Whole Numbers
Fractions and decimals pop up in all kinds of everyday situations, from store sales to cooking recipes. Unfortunately, this makes learning to do calculations with fractions and decimals unavoidable. Sometimes, in order to better visualize a decimal, you need to convert it to a fraction with whole numbers. While it might take some time and practice at first, learning this skill will prove useful when you are facing with math homework and or real-life problems.
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Instructions
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Separate the whole number part of the number from the decimal part. For instance, rewrite 3.48 as 3 +.48 and 76.2 as 76 + .2.
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Change the decimal part of the number into a fraction over the number 100. The tenths place tells you the tens digit and the hundredths place tells you the ones digit. For example, you would rewrite .48 as 48/100 and .2 as 20/100.
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Reduce the fraction by dividing both the numerator (top number) and denominator (bottom number) by the largest number than can evenly divide into both. To reduce 48/100, you would divide 48 and 100 both by 4 to get 16/25.
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Add the fraction back to the whole number by finding a least common denominator (which will automatically be the denominator that came from the converted decimal). Multiply both the top and bottom of the whole number by the least common denominator. Here, you would change 3 to 75/25.
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Add the converted whole number and the fraction by adding the numerators and putting them over the common denominator. For example, 75/25 + 16/25 would give you 91/25. This would be the answer as an imperfect fraction.
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Tips & Warnings
You can check your answer on any calculator by dividing the top whole number of the fraction by the bottom one to see if you end up with the original decimal.
A graphing calculator can covert the decimal fraction to a whole number fraction for you. Type in the decimal. Then hit "math," select "fraction" and press "enter."
When reducing the fractions, remember that if both the numerator and denominator are even, they can always both be divided by the number two.
Pay attention to the directions. If they ask for the answer as a mixed fraction, you must divide the numerator by the denominator to get the whole number and then leave the remainder over the denominator. For instance, 51/5 would become 10 and 1/5.
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