What is 10/3 as a decimal?
Dividing a whole number by another whole number often results in a decimal number. In this case, we are interested in figuring out what happens when we divide 10 by 3.
How to Calculate 10/3 as a Decimal
Here's how to calculate 10/3 as a decimal:
- Divide 10 by 3. You can use a calculator or perform long division.
- The result is 3.333333... Notice that the 3 repeats infinitely after the decimal point.
Understanding the Result
The result, 3.333333..., is a repeating decimal. This means that the digit "3" continues endlessly after the decimal point.
Representing Repeating Decimals
There are two common ways to represent repeating decimals:
- Using a bar over the repeating digits: 3.333333... can be written as 3.3 (the bar indicates that the digit "3" repeats indefinitely).
- Using the term "approximately": Since we can't write out an infinite number of digits, we can say 10/3 is approximately 3.33.
Example: Real-World Application of Decimals
Imagine you have 10 cookies and you want to divide them equally among 3 friends. Each friend would get 3 cookies with 1 cookie remaining. You can represent this leftover cookie as a fraction (1/3) or a decimal (0.33).
Conclusion
10/3 as a decimal is 3.333333..., a repeating decimal. This can be expressed as 3.3 or approximately 3.33. Understanding how to convert fractions into decimals is helpful in various practical situations, from dividing items equally to working with numerical data.