Convert Fraction to Decimal: Finding the Decimal Value of 3/20

Q: Why multiply by 5/5 instead of just dividing 3 by 20?

Multiplying by 5/5 makes the denominator 100, which converts easily to decimals! While division works too, this method helps you see the decimal pattern clearly: 15/100 = 0.15.

Q: What if the denominator doesn't make 100 easily?

Try making it 10, 100, or 1000 instead! For example, $ \frac{1}{8} $ becomes $ \frac{125}{1000} $ = 0.125 when multiplied by $ \frac{125}{125} $.

Q: How do I know how many decimal places to use?

Count the zeros in your denominator! If you have 100 (2 zeros), your decimal has 2 places. If you have 1000 (3 zeros), your decimal has 3 places.

Q: What if I get a different decimal answer?

Double-check your multiplication! Make sure you multiplied both numerator and denominator by the same number. For $ \frac{3}{20} $, it should be 3×5 = 15 and 20×5 = 100.

Fraction to Decimal with Denominator Conversion

Convert $\frac{3}{20}$ into a decimal.

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Convert to decimal fraction

00:03 Change the denominator to any multiple of 10 and 10

00:07 Make sure to multiply both numerator and denominator

00:18 Convert to decimal fraction

00:21 When the denominator equals 100

00:24 Place the numerator 2 digits after the decimal point

00:28 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Convert $\frac{3}{20}$ into a decimal.

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll utilize multiplication to simplify the conversion process:

Step 1: Begin with $\frac{3}{20}$ .
Step 2: Identify that multiplying $\frac{3}{20}$ by $\frac{5}{5}$ (which is 1, thus does not change the value) will yield a fraction with a denominator of 100: $\frac{3 \times 5}{20 \times 5} = \frac{15}{100}$ .
Step 3: A denominator of 100 allows straightforward conversion to decimal, with $\frac{15}{100} = 0.15$ .

Therefore, the fraction $\frac{3}{20}$ converts to a decimal as 0.15.

This calculation aligns with the answer choice provided, making option : 0.15 the correct one.

Final Answer

0.15

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Convert fractions to decimals by making denominator 100
Technique: Multiply $\frac{3}{20}$ by $\frac{5}{5}$ to get $\frac{15}{100}$
Check: Verify 15 hundredths equals 0.15 by counting decimal places ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Dividing numerator by denominator incorrectly
Don't calculate 3 ÷ 20 without proper decimal placement = 0.015 instead of 0.15! This moves the decimal point to the wrong position. Always multiply to create a power of 10 denominator first, then convert directly.

Practice Quiz

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How much of the whole does the shaded area (blue) represent?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why multiply by 5/5 instead of just dividing 3 by 20?

Multiplying by 5/5 makes the denominator 100, which converts easily to decimals! While division works too, this method helps you see the decimal pattern clearly: 15/100 = 0.15.

What if the denominator doesn't make 100 easily?

Try making it 10, 100, or 1000 instead! For example, $\frac{1}{8}$ becomes $\frac{125}{1000}$ = 0.125 when multiplied by $\frac{125}{125}$ .

How do I know how many decimal places to use?

Count the zeros in your denominator! If you have 100 (2 zeros), your decimal has 2 places. If you have 1000 (3 zeros), your decimal has 3 places.

Can I just use long division instead?

Absolutely! Long division of 3 ÷ 20 gives the same answer. However, the multiplication method helps you understand why decimals work and is often faster for simple fractions.

What if I get a different decimal answer?

Double-check your multiplication! Make sure you multiplied both numerator and denominator by the same number. For $\frac{3}{20}$ , it should be 3×5 = 15 and 20×5 = 100.

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