Question

1/4 converted to decimals?

Answer 1

`0.25`

Explanation:

1) Let's make this fraction over 100 to convert better.

`1/4`
=> `25/100`

As 100/4=25, so multiply the fraction by 25.

Now it is much easier to convert.

`25/10=2.5`

So therefore just move the decimal place to the left once to get

`25/100`

`therefore` `25/100=0.25` And as `25/100=1/4` `1/4` is also `0.25`

Answer 2

`0.25`

A different approach- takes longer to explain than to do.

It is a useful tool as it may be applied in some different contexts.

Explanation:

`color(blue)("Preamble")`

The value of `1/4` behaves in the same way as `1-:4`

But as 1 is less than 4 this gives us a bit of a problem so we need to find a way round it.

`color(brown)("Something to think about")`

1 has a value. Bit obvious! However, what is not obvious is that we can write 1 in many ways and we can use this in our calculation.

Example: Just picking on any number I choose 3

`1=100/100= 100xx1/100`

`3=3xx1color(white)("dd")=3xx100/100color(white)("dd")=3xx100xx1/100color(white)("dd") = 300xx1/100`

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
`color(blue)("Answering the question")`

`color(green)(1/4 color(white)("d")->color(white)("d") (1color(red)(xx1))-:4 )`

`color(green)(color(white)("ddd")->(1color(red)(xx100/100))-:4 )`

`color(green)(color(white)("ddd")->(1color(red)(xx100xx1/100))-:4 )`

For multiply and divide you can change the order of things. That is, as long as they are grouped properly. In this case grouping does not matter. `a-:cxxb` is the same answer as `bxxa-:c` Works as long as the sign follows the value.

`color(green)(color(white)("ddd")->color(white)("ddd")100-:4color(red)(xx1/100))`

`color(green)(color(white)("ddd")->color(white)("ddddd")25color(white)("dd")color(red)(xx1/100)`

`color(green)(color(white)("ddd")->color(white)("dddddd") 0.25)`