Decimal to Fraction
Conversion

Before we start talking about decimal to fraction conversion, let’s say something about decimals.

Well, decimal numbers, or as we shorter call them decimals, are a special form of fractions. As classic fractions, they are the way to represent "not-whole" numbers.

In decimals we operate with a system based on 10s. They are much easier than regular fractions. And they have a different way of noting.

Percents, on the other hand, are even more specific fractions. They are fractions with the denominator = 100.

OK, let’s see and convert decimal to fraction in the following less-than-one example, with just one decimal place.

			=
0.8 =	8	÷2	=	4
0.8 =	10	÷2	=	5

So, no whole numbers, just 8 10ths. Afterwards we can reduce of course.

Now let’s see a greater-than-one example again with 1 decimal place.

.		=
2.3 = 2	3	=	2×10 + 3	=	23
	10		10		10

A point (dot) is a separation point between whole numbers part on the left and the fractions part (10ths, 100ths, 1000ths etc) on the right hand side.

This example, 2 wholes and 3/10, is represented by 2.3.

We notice that there are no 10ths stated anywhere. That’s because they are already implied.

Here’s a shorter (recommended) version for this conversion:

$Decimal to Fraction Conversion 1 place$

Only 1 decimal place (digit) – means we’re dealing with 10ths, so 1 zero in the denominator (apart from mandatory 1), and then you just lift the whole number (number 4 in this case) up to the numerator.

Now with 2 decimal places:

$Decimal to Fraction Conversion 2 places$

Again, very similar, we have 2 decimal places – that means we’ll have 2 zeros in our denominator. At the end – we lift up the whole number and join it with decimal/fraction part.

It doesn’t matter how big the number is – you always follow the same pattern.

Let’s demonstrate it one more time, now a 2 digit number with 3 decimal places: