1.5.

1 WRITING FRACTIONS AS DECIMALS

Fractions whose denominators are factors of 10, 100 or 1000 can be written as decimals using equivalent
fractions. Any fraction can also be written as a decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator.

EXAMPLE 1 Writing a fraction as a decimal

Write as a decimal.

Since 5 is a factor of 10, write an equivalent fraction with a denominator of 10.

x 2
=
x 2
= 0,6

So = 0,6.

EXAMPLE 2 Writing a fraction as a decimal

Write as a decimal.

0,555… Note that the remainder after each step is 5. This means it will continue in a
9 5,000 regular pattern.
-45
50
-45
50
-45
5

= 0,555 … 𝑜𝑟 0, 5.

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 EXERCISES

1. Write each fraction or mixed number as a decimal.

1.1 1.10

1.2 1.11

1.3 1.12 2
1.4 4 1.13

1.5 1.14

1.6 3 1.15 1
1.7 1.16 1
1.8 1.17 3
1.9 1.18 4

PRACTICE

1. Write each fraction or mixed number as a decimal.

1.1 1.14

1.2 1.15

1.3 1.16

1.4 1.17

1.5 1.18

1.6 1.19

1.7 1.20

1.8 1.21

1.9 1.22

1.10 1.23

1.11 1.24

1.12 1.25 9
1.13 1.26 7

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2. SPORT Jake completed a marathon race in 3 hours and 12 minutes. Write Jake’s running time as a
decimal.

3. LIFE ORIENTATION There were 6 girls and 18 boys in Mrs Johnson’s Life Orientation class. Write the
number of girls as a fraction of the number of boys. Then write the fraction as a repeating decimal.

4. LIFE SCIENCES In a neighbourhood of 72 families, 18 families own one or more cats. Write the number
of families who own one or more cats as a fraction. Then write the fraction as a decimal.

5. TECHNOLOGY In Italy, about 74 out of every 100 people use cellular telephones. Write the fraction
of cellular phone users in Italy. Then write the fraction as a decimal.

6. LIFE ORIENTATION Ms Rockwell surveyed her class and found that 12 out of the 30 learners chose
peaches as their favourite fruit. Write the number of learners who chose peaches as a fraction in
simplest form. Then write the fraction as a decimal.

7. GEOGRAPHY Tora took a short trip of 320 kilometres. He stopped to have lunch after he had driven
120 kilometres. Write the fraction of the trip he had completed by lunch in simplest form. Then write
the fraction as a decimal.

8. LIFE ORIENTATION In a recent school election, 208 of the 325 high school learners voted in their
school election. Write the fraction of learners who voted. Then write the fraction as a decimal.

9 LIFE SCIENCES The table below shows the lengths of different pond insects. Using decimals, name the
insect having the smallest length and the insect having the greatest length.
POND INSECTS
INSECT DEER FLY SPONGILLA FLY SPRINGTAIL WATER TREADER
2 3 3 1
LENGTH (in.)
5 10 20 2

10. NATURAL SCIENCE The planet Mercury is roughly the size of Earth. Write the fraction as a decicmal.

11. TECHNOLOGY Lin has a sphere that is centimetres wide. Write the marble’s width as a decimal.

12. LIFE ORIENTATION Miko has finished of her homework. Write the fraction as a decimal.

13. LIFE ORIENTATION Tate has been dancing for of an hour. Write this fraction as a decimal.

14. SPORTS Charlie played tennis for 3 hours. Write the mixed number as a decimal.

15. CONSUMER STUDIES A recipe calls for 2 cups of milk. Write the mixed number as a decimal.

16. LIFE SCIENCES Winona is 2 the height of her little brother. Write the mixed number as a decimal.

17. CREATIVE ARTS Jennifer has been spinning in circles for 4 minutes. Write the mixed number as a
decimal.

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 1.5.2 WRITING DECIMALS AS FRACTIONS

Decimals like 0,58, 0,12 and 0,08 can be written as fractions.

To write a decimal as a fraction, you can follow these steps.

1. Identify the place value of the last decimal place.
2. Write the decimal as a fraction using the place value as the denominator.

EXAMPLE 1 Writing a decimal as a fraction

Write 0,5 as a fraction in simplest form.

0,5 0,5 means five tenths.

= Simplify. Dived the numerator and denominator by the GCF, 5.

So in simplest form, 0,5 = .

EXAMPLE 2 Writing a decimal as a fraction

Write 0,35 as a fraction in simplest form.

0,35 0,35 means 35 hundredths.

= Simplify. Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF, 5.

So in simplest form, 0,35 = .

EXAMPLE 3 Writing a decimal as a fraction

Write 4,375 as a fraction in simplest form.

4,375 0,375 means 375 thousandths.

=4 Simplify. Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF, 125.

=4

So in simplest form, 4,375 =4 .

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 EXERCISES

1. Write each decimal as a fraction or mixed number in simplest form.

1.1 0,14 1.10 0,035
1.2 0,3 1.11 0,008
1.3 0,94 1.12 1,4
1.4 0,9 1.13 3,6
1.5 0,8 1.14 6,28
1.6 0,27 1.15 2,65
1.7 0,75 1.16 12,025
1.8 0,34 1.17 4,004
1.9 0,125 1.18 23,205

PRACTICE

1. Replace each  with <, > or = to make a true statement.

1.1
∎0,2
1.2
∎0,63
1.3 ∎0,5

2. Write each decimal as a fraction or mixed number in simplest form.

2.1 0,4 2.11 0,48
2.2 0,83 2.12 0,72
2.3 3,75 2.13 0,625
2.4 2,42 2.14 0,065
2.5 0,16 2.15 0,002
2.6 0,65 2.16 3,6
2.7 0,5 2.17 10,4
2.8 0,8 2.18 2,11
2.9 0,9 2.19 29,15
2.10 0,75 2.20 7,202

3. GEOGRAPHY River Road is 11 kilometres long. Ocean Road is 14,9 kilometres long. How much
longer is Ocean Road than River Road?

4. PHYSICAL SCIENCE One kilometre is approximately 0,62 miles. What fraction represents this length?

5. GEOGRAPHY The library is 0,96 kilometres away from Theo’s home. Write this distance as a fraction
in simplest form.

6. LIFE SCIENCE A Japanese beetle has a length between 0,76 and 1,27 centimetres. Find two lengths
that are within the given span. Write them as fractions in simplest form.

7. LIFE SCIENCE About 0,4 of a Life Science class will be going on a field trip. Write the decimal as a
fraction in simplest form.

8. NATURAL SCIENCE Eight percent of all life on Earth is below the ocean’s surface. Write 0,80 as a
fraction in simplest form.

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9. NATURAL SCIENCE The planet Venus is 108,21 million kilometres from the Sun. Write the decimal as
a mixed number in simplest form.

10. NATURAL SCIENCE If you weighed 138 kilograms on Earth, you would weigh 128,34 kilograms on
Saturn. Write the weight on Saturn as a mixed number in simplest form.

11. NATURAL SCIENCE If you were 10 years old on Earth, you would be 41,494 years old on Mercury.
Write the age on Mercury as a mixed number in simplest form.

12. TECHNOLOGY According to recent figures, 4,65 million people in the Middle East are online. Write
the decimal as a mixed number in simplest form.

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