Grade 6 · Free math lesson

Fractions & Decimals

After this lesson, you will be able to convert fractions to decimals and decimals to fractions with confidence.

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Skills in this unit

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Standards covered:6.NS.A.15.NF.B.45.NF.B.65.NF.A.15.NF.A.26.NS.B.36.RP.A.3.c7.NS.A.2.d6.NS.C.76.NS.B.4

What Is a Fraction?

A fraction shows a part of a whole. The bottom number (denominator) tells how many equal parts there are, and the top number (numerator) tells how many parts you have.

Example: 3/4 means you have 3 out of 4 equal pieces of a chocolate bar.

Remember: Think: Denominator = Down below = total pieces.

Fraction to Decimal

To turn a fraction into a decimal, just divide the top number by the bottom number. Your calculator or long division does the work!

Example: 3/4 → 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75. So 3/4 and 0.75 are the same amount!

Remember: The fraction bar means DIVIDE. Top ÷ Bottom = Decimal.

Decimal to Fraction

Look at how many digits are after the decimal point. One digit → put it over 10. Two digits → put it over 100. Then simplify if you can!

Example: 0.75 has two digits after the point → 75/100. Simplify by dividing both by 25 → 3/4.

Remember: Count the decimal places, add that many zeros to your 1: one place = /10, two places = /100.

Worked example

Convert 0.25 to a fraction, then simplify it.

  1. 1Step 1: Count the decimal places. 0.25 has 2 digits after the point, so write it as 25/100.
  2. 2Step 2: Find the biggest number that divides both 25 and 100. That's 25.
  3. 3Step 3: Divide top and bottom by 25 → 25 ÷ 25 = 1, and 100 ÷ 25 = 4.

Answer: 0.25 = 1/4

The #1 mistake to avoid

Students flip the numerator and denominator when dividing — always divide TOP by BOTTOM, never bottom by top. Remember: fraction bar = divide top by bottom.

Key takeaways

  • A fraction shows parts of a whole: top number ÷ bottom number.
  • To convert a fraction to a decimal, divide the top by the bottom.
  • To convert a decimal to a fraction, use 10, 100, or 1000 as the denominator based on decimal places, then simplify.

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