Decimal
What is 3/10 as a decimal?
3/10 as a decimal is 0.3
The decimal form of fractions with denominator 1 followed by zeros:
The number of zeros in the denominator of a fraction is the number of decimal points to be shifted to the left in the numerator.
Example:
$$\frac{\mathbf7}{\mathbf{10}}\boldsymbol=\mathbf0\boldsymbol.\mathbf7$$
The denominator 10 has one zero. The decimal shifts one point to the left in the numerator, which is 0.7.
$$\frac{\mathbf4}{\mathbf{100}}\boldsymbol=\mathbf0\boldsymbol.\mathbf{04}$$
Similarly, here the denominator 100 has two zeros. The decimal shifts two points to the left in the numerator, which is 0.04.
Solution
Let us convert the given fraction $$\frac3{10}$$ similarly.
The denominator 10 has one zero, hence the decimal point shifts one point to the left in the numerator, which is 0.3.
$$\frac{\mathbf3}{\mathbf{10}}\boldsymbol=\mathbf0\boldsymbol.\mathbf3$$
Alternative Method
On the other hand, the decimal form can also be arrived at by doing the long division.
$$\frac{\mathbf3}{\mathbf{10}}\boldsymbol=\mathbf3\boldsymbol\div\mathbf{10}$$
Divide 3 by 10 using the division method.
We can see that the method of converting fractions to decimals by shifting the decimal point is easier than the long division method.
Remember
Here are some common terms you should be familiar with.
- In the fraction $$\frac3{10}$$, the number 3 is the dividend (our numerator)
- The number 10 is our divisor (our denominator).
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