Divide to Convert

Converting a fraction to a decimal is one operation: divide the numerator by the denominator. 3/4 = 3 divided by 4 = 0.75. 1/8 = 1 divided by 8 = 0.125. The fraction bar has always meant division.

Some fractions give terminating decimals that end after a few digits. Others give repeating decimals that run forever: 1/3 = 0.333... and 1/7 = 0.142857142857... (that six-digit block never stops). Which one you get depends on the denominator, and the rest of this lesson shows you how to tell at a glance.