Step 1: Find a number you can multiply by
the bottom of the fraction to make it 10, or 100, or 1000, or any 1 followed by 0s.
Step 2: Multiply both top and bottom by that number.
Step 3. Then write down just the top number, putting the decimal place in the correct spot (one space
from the right for every zero in the bottom number)
Example 1: Express 3/4 as a Decimal
Step 1: We can mulitply 4 by
25 to become 100
Step 2: Multiply top and bottom by 25:
×25
3
=
75
4
100
×25
Step 3: Write down 75 with the decimal place 2 spaces from the right (because 100 has 2 zeros);
Answer = 0.75
Example 2: Express 3/16 as a Decimal
Step 1: We have to mulitply 16 by
625 to become 10,000
Step 2: Multiply top and bottom by 625:
×625
3
=
1,875
16
10,000
×625
Step 3: Write down 1875 with the decimal place 4 spaces from the right (because 10,000 has 4 zeros);
Answer = 0.1875
Example 2: Express 1/3 as a Decimal
Step 1: There is no way to multiply 3 to become 10 or 100 or any power of 10, but we can calculate an
approximate decimal by choosing
to multiply by, say, 333
Step 2: Multiply top and bottom by 333:
×333
1
=
333
3
999
×333
Step 3: Now, 999 is
nearly 1,000, so let us write down 333 with the decimal place 3 spaces from the right (because 1,000 has 3 zeros):
Answer = 0.333 (accurate to only 3 decimal places !
