How do you convert a fraction to a decimal?

2 Answers
Karen L. · Tony B
Apr 11, 2016

#("numerator")/("denominator")#

e.g. #1/10=0.1#

George C.
Apr 11, 2016

By long division.

Explanation:

Ultimately you can find a decimal expansion for any fraction of the form #a/b# for integers #a# and #b# by long division.

For example, consider #186/7#:

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Eventually the remainders in long division will repeat. In this example, the remainder starts to repeat with the value #4# occurring for the second time.

That means that the quotient will start to repeat too and we find:

#186/7 = 26.57142857142857142857...#

which can be written:

#186/7 = 26.bar(571428)#

The bar over the sequence #571428# indicates the repeating section.

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