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.025 as a fraction

.025 as a fraction

2 min read 15-01-2025
.025 as a fraction

Many people find working with decimals challenging. Converting decimals to fractions is a fundamental skill in math, useful in various applications. This article will guide you through converting the decimal 0.025 into a fraction. We'll break down the process step-by-step, ensuring you understand the logic behind each stage.

Decimals and Fractions: A Quick Refresher

Before we dive into the conversion, let's briefly recap what decimals and fractions represent. A decimal is a way of writing a number that isn't a whole number. It uses a decimal point to separate the whole number part from the fractional part. A fraction, on the other hand, represents a part of a whole number, expressed as a ratio of two numbers (the numerator and the denominator).

Converting 0.025 to a Fraction: The Method

Here's how to convert the decimal 0.025 into a fraction:

Step 1: Write the decimal as a fraction with a denominator of 1.

This is our starting point:

0.025/1

Step 2: Multiply the numerator and the denominator by 1000.

We choose 1000 because there are three digits after the decimal point. Multiplying by 1000 moves the decimal point three places to the right, effectively removing it. This gives us:

(0.025 * 1000) / (1 * 1000) = 25/1000

Step 3: Simplify the fraction.

Now we need to simplify the fraction 25/1000 to its lowest terms. This means finding the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the numerator and the denominator and dividing both by it. The GCD of 25 and 1000 is 25. Dividing both the numerator and denominator by 25 gives us:

25 ÷ 25 = 1 1000 ÷ 25 = 40

Therefore, the simplified fraction is 1/40.

Verification: Converting the Fraction Back to a Decimal

To double-check our work, let's convert the fraction 1/40 back to a decimal. We do this by dividing the numerator (1) by the denominator (40):

1 ÷ 40 = 0.025

This confirms that our conversion from 0.025 to 1/40 is correct.

Practical Applications of Decimal to Fraction Conversion

Converting decimals to fractions is a valuable skill in many areas, including:

  • Baking and Cooking: Recipes often use fractions for ingredient measurements.
  • Construction and Engineering: Precise measurements frequently require fractional calculations.
  • Finance: Working with percentages and interest rates often involves converting decimals to fractions.
  • General Mathematics: Understanding fractions is crucial for mastering various mathematical concepts.

Conclusion

Converting the decimal 0.025 to a fraction involves a simple process of writing it as a fraction over 1, multiplying to remove the decimal point, and then simplifying to the lowest terms. Understanding this process enhances your mathematical skills and enables you to confidently handle various decimal-to-fraction conversions. Remember, the key is to multiply by a power of 10 that eliminates the decimal, followed by simplification. This straightforward method allows you to easily translate decimals into their equivalent fractional representations. The final answer, as we've demonstrated, is 1/40.

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