Changing Fractions to Decimals

To change a fraction to a decimal, divide the bottom number into the top number after you put a decimal point and a few zeroes on the right of the top number. When you divide, bring the decimal point up into your answer.

Change 3/4 to a decimal.
1. Add a decimal point and 2 zeroes to the top number (3): 3.00
2. Divide the bottom number (4) into 3.00:
Bring the decimal point up into the answer:

3. The quotient (result of the division) is the answer:
.75

Some fractions may require you to add many decimal zeroes in order for the division to come out evenly.

In fact, when you convert a fraction like 2/3 to a decimal, you can keep adding decimal zeroes to the top number forever because the division will never come out evenly! As you divide 3 into 2, you'll keep getting 6's:


This is called a repeating decimal and it can be written as or as .66 2/3. You can approximate it as .67, .667, .6667, and so on.