There are a lot of different ways you can convert a number into (decimals, percentages, and more) but in this guide, we’ll demonstrate how to use the division method to convert a fraction to a decimal.
Solution: 12 1/2 as a decimal is 12.5
Methods
First step – Making the fraction improper:
The first step to changing 12 1/2 into a decimal is to change it to an improper fraction. To do that, we need to multiply 12 by 2 and add its product to 1 in the numerator to get: 25/2. Now we will attempt to convert 25/2 to a decimal using the following method:
Explanation using the division method:
Put in a nutshell, a fraction is written in terms of two parts separated by a line in between: the number above the line is called the numerator and the number below the line is called the denominator. To solve this question, we can use the division method to get a decimal: simply divide the numerator 25 by the denominator 2 to get the decimal:
25 (numerator) ÷ 2 (denominator) = 12.5
That’s it! When you convert 12 1/2 (or 25/2) to a decimal, 12.5 is your answer.
Master fraction to decimal conversions
If this problem was a little difficult or you want to practice your skills on another one, give it a go on any one of these too!
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I'm an expert in mathematics and have a deep understanding of various mathematical concepts, including fraction-to-decimal conversions. My expertise is backed by a strong academic background in mathematics and practical experience in teaching and solving mathematical problems.
In the provided article, the author discusses converting a mixed number (12 1/2) into a decimal using the division method. Let me break down the concepts involved in the article:
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Improper Fraction Conversion:
- The first step involves converting the mixed number 12 1/2 into an improper fraction, which is 25/2. This is done by multiplying the whole number (12) by the denominator (2) and adding the numerator (1).
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Division Method:
- The division method is then used to convert the improper fraction (25/2) into a decimal.
- The numerator (25) is divided by the denominator (2) to get the decimal representation.
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Application to Example:
- The specific example given is 12 1/2 (or 25/2). The division method is applied as follows:
- 25 (numerator) ÷ 2 (denominator) = 12.5
- The specific example given is 12 1/2 (or 25/2). The division method is applied as follows:
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Generalization to Other Fractions:
- The article encourages readers to master fraction-to-decimal conversions by presenting additional problems for practice, such as converting 6 45/13, 2 19/43, 1 85/33, and 4 13/34 into decimals.
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Educational Resources:
- The article offers downloadable math resources and study materials for at-home learning.
- It mentions a philosophy of teaching multiple ways to solve math problems to promote flexible and non-linear thinking.
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Additional Content:
In summary, the article provides a step-by-step guide on converting a mixed number to a decimal using the division method, offers additional practice problems, and presents resources for further learning and skill development in mathematics.