Decimal fractions in the field
A fraction shows a part of a whole. A decimal shows the same part with a point. One half is 1/2 and it is 0.5. One quarter is 1/4 and it is 0.25. Three quarters is 3/4 and it is 0.75. One fifth is 1/5 and it is 0.2. We read 0.5 as zero point five and 0.25 as zero point two five. To change a fraction into a decimal we divide the top number by the bottom number: 1 ÷ 4 = 0.25.
| Fraction | Decimal | We say |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 0.5 | zero point five |
| 1/4 | 0.25 | zero point two five |
| 3/4 | 0.75 | zero point seven five |
| 1/5 | 0.2 | zero point two |
| 1/10 | 0.1 | zero point one |
Farmer Reda has a field. He plants beans in half of it, that is 0.5. He plants onions in one quarter, that is 0.25. He plants tomatoes in the last quarter, that is also 0.25. So the whole field is full: 0.5 plus 0.25 plus 0.25 is 1.
How much of the field is for onions?
One quarter. We write 0.25.
And the beans?
Half of the field. We write 0.5.
Fold a field. Take a paper rectangle. Fold it in half and colour one half: 1/2 = 0.5. Fold again to make quarters and colour one quarter. Say the fraction and the decimal each time. Then colour three quarters and say 3/4 = 0.75.
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