Convert Fraction to Decimal: Solving 20/100 Step by Step

Q: Why do I move the decimal point left when dividing by 100?

When you divide by powers of 10 (like 100), you're making the number smaller. Moving left makes decimals smaller: $ \frac{20}{100} $ means 20 ÷ 100 = 0.2

Q: How many places do I move the decimal for different denominators?

Count the zeros! 10 = 1 zero = 1 place left, 100 = 2 zeros = 2 places left, 1000 = 3 zeros = 3 places left. Easy pattern!

Q: What if my fraction doesn't have 10, 100, or 1000 in the denominator?

You'll need to use long division instead! The decimal point moving trick only works with denominators that are powers of 10.

Q: Do I need to keep the trailing zeros in my answer?

No! $ 0.200 = 0.2 $ - you can drop trailing zeros after the decimal point. Both answers mean the same thing.

Fraction to Decimal with Denominators of 100

Write the following fraction as a decimal:

$\frac{20}{100}=$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:05 Let's convert to a decimal fraction.

00:09 First, take the numerator as your number.

00:12 Then, depending on the denominator, move the decimal point.

00:17 If the denominator is one hundred, move the point two places to the left.

00:23 And that's how you solve the problem!

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Write the following fraction as a decimal:

$\frac{20}{100}=$

Step-by-step solution

Let's write the simple fraction as a decimal fraction

$20.0$

Since the fraction divides by 100, we move the decimal point once to the left and get:

$.200$

We'll add the zero before the decimal point and get:

$0.200=0.2$

Final Answer

0.2

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Dividing by 100 moves decimal point two places left
Technique: $\frac{20}{100}$ becomes 20.0 → 0.20 → 0.2
Check: Multiply back: 0.2 × 100 = 20 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Moving decimal point only one place instead of two
Don't move the decimal just one place when dividing by 100 = getting 2.0 instead of 0.2! This happens because 100 has two zeros, requiring two decimal moves. Always count the zeros in the denominator to know how many places to move left.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Write the following fraction as a decimal:

$\frac{5}{100}=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I move the decimal point left when dividing by 100?

When you divide by powers of 10 (like 100), you're making the number smaller. Moving left makes decimals smaller: $\frac{20}{100}$ means 20 ÷ 100 = 0.2

How many places do I move the decimal for different denominators?

Count the zeros! 10 = 1 zero = 1 place left, 100 = 2 zeros = 2 places left, 1000 = 3 zeros = 3 places left. Easy pattern!

What if my fraction doesn't have 10, 100, or 1000 in the denominator?

You'll need to use long division instead! The decimal point moving trick only works with denominators that are powers of 10.

Do I need to keep the trailing zeros in my answer?

No! $0.200 = 0.2$ - you can drop trailing zeros after the decimal point. Both answers mean the same thing.

How do I check if my decimal conversion is correct?

Multiply your decimal answer by the original denominator. If you get the original numerator, you're right! 0.2 × 100 = 20 ✓

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