Question

Find a decimal equivalent for each fraction or mixed number. \(\frac{376}{20,000}\)

Short answer

0.0188

Step-by-step solution

- Understand the Fraction

Given the fraction \(\frac{376}{20,000}\), we need to convert it to a decimal.

- Perform Division

To find the decimal equivalent of a fraction, divide the numerator by the denominator. Compute \(376 \div 20,000\).

- Execute the Division

Using a calculator or performing long division, you get \(376 \div 20,000 \approx 0.0188\).

- Verify the Result

Ensure that the result makes sense. \(0.0188\) is the correct decimal form of \(\frac{376}{20,000}\).

Key concepts

Fractions to Decimals

Converting fractions to decimals is an essential math skill. A fraction represents a part of a whole. When you need to convert a fraction like \(\frac{376}{20,000}\) to a decimal, you perform division. This means dividing the numerator (the top number) by the denominator (the bottom number). For our example, we divided 376 by 20,000 to get approximately 0.0188. Knowing how to do this helps in many real-life situations, like understanding measurements or money calculations.

Long Division

Long division is a method used for dividing large numbers. It's essential when converting fractions to decimals without a calculator. Here's how you do it: Write 376 (the numerator) inside the division bracket and 20,000 (the denominator) outside. You find out how many times 20,000 can go into 376. In this case, it's less than 1, so you add a zero and a decimal point next to 376 and multiply by 10, making it 3,760. You continue this process until you get the decimal result. It's a bit like a repeated process of guessing and checking. This method can be tedious but is very useful especially when a calculator is not handy.

Numerator and Denominator

A fraction consists of two parts: the numerator and the denominator. The numerator is the number above the line in a fraction, and it represents how many parts you have. The denominator is the number below the line, representing how many equal parts the whole is divided into. For instance, in \(\frac{376}{20,000}\), 376 is the numerator and 20,000 is the denominator. Understanding these two parts helps in converting fractions to decimals since you always divide the numerator by the denominator. This principle applies to all fractions, whether simple like \(\frac{1}{2}\) or complex like our example.