Step by step
The question
Question: write 3/8 as a decimal.
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1 Make the bottom 10, 100 or 1000
A decimal is tenths, hundredths, thousandths.
So we want a bottom of 10, 100 or 1000.
8 times 125 is 1000.
8 × 125 = 1000
We multiply the top and the bottom by 125.
125/125 is 1, so the value stays the same.
= 3 × 1258 × 125
3 times 125 is 375.
So we get 375/1000.
= 3751000
2 Write the decimal
1000 has 3 zeros.
So the decimal has 3 digits after the point.
1000: 3 zeros → 3 digits after the point
375 thousandths is 0.375.
= 0.375
3 Check
Let's check: the decimal times the bottom should give the top.
0.375 times 8.
Check: 0.375 × 8
Forget the points: 375 times 8 is 3000.
The numbers have 3 digits after the point.
So the answer has 3 too: 3.000, which is 3.
375 × 8 = 3000 → 3.000
We get 3, the top.
So the answer is right!
0.375 × 8 = 3
Let's look back.
First: make the bottom 10, 100 or 1000.
Then: write the decimal.
Last: check.
Answer
= 0.375