Reading and Writing Decimal Fractions

Every decimal number has two parts, a whole/integral part and a decimal part. Dot (.) called decimal point separates the integral and decimal part.

Example: 43.678 is a decimal fraction and can be represented as

Placing the above decimal fraction in Decimal Place Value Chart

The above number read as

Forty three point six seven eight

Or.

Forty three and six hundred seventy eight thousandth

Writing a Fraction as Decimal

Fractions with denominators 10, 100 and 1000 can be easily written as decimal fractions.

Example1: 8/10

Write the number 8 with decimal point 1 space from right as 10 has 1 zero.

So, 8/10 = 0.8

Note: Place a zero to the right of decimal point, if there is no whole part in the given number to make decimal point distinctly visible.

Example2: 8/100

Write the number 8 with decimal point 2 space from right as 100 have 2 zero.

So, 8/100 = 0.08

Example3: 15/100

Write the number 15 with decimal point 2 space from right as 100 have 2 zero.

So, 15/100 = 0.15

Example4: 545/1000

Write the number 545 with decimal point 3 space from right as 1000 have 3 zero.

So, 545/1000 = 0.545

Writing a Decimal Fraction as Common Fraction

Step 1: Write the number given in the decimal fraction without decimal point as numerator.

Step 2: Write the denominator with 1.

Step 3: Add number of zeroes equal to the number of digits after the decimal point on the right side of 1.

Example 1: Write 0.105 as a fraction.

Write the number given in the decimal fraction without decimal point as numerator.

105

Write the denominator with 1.

105/1

Add number of zeroes equal to the number of digits after the decimal point on the right side of 1.

105/1000

Example 2: Write 12.57 as a fraction.

Write the number given in the decimal fraction without decimal point as numerator.

1257

Write the denominator with 1.

1257/1

Add number of zeroes equal to the number of digits after the decimal point on the right side of 1.

1257/100