What is 1/2 as a decimal?
The fraction 1/2 represents half of a whole. To express this as a decimal, we need to divide the numerator (1) by the denominator (2).
How to Convert 1/2 to a Decimal
- Divide the numerator by the denominator: 1 ÷ 2 = 0.5
Therefore, 1/2 as a decimal is 0.5.
Understanding Decimals
Decimals are a way of representing numbers that are less than one whole. Each digit after the decimal point represents a fraction with a denominator that is a power of ten. In the case of 0.5, the '5' represents 5 tenths (5/10).
Practical Applications
Understanding how to convert fractions to decimals is useful in many situations:
- Calculating percentages: 0.5 is equivalent to 50%
- Financial calculations: When dealing with money, you might need to convert fractions to decimals for calculations.
- Scientific applications: Many scientific calculations use decimals.
Additional Examples
Here are some other common fractions and their decimal equivalents:
- 1/4 = 0.25
- 3/4 = 0.75
- 1/10 = 0.1
Conclusion
Converting fractions to decimals is a straightforward process involving division. Understanding the relationship between fractions and decimals helps you perform various mathematical operations and solve real-world problems.