Most fractions you'll meet are friendly. A few aren't. Knowing which is which saves time and embarrassment.
If you have ever stared at a number on a form and wondered where it came from, you are not alone. Most fractions you'll meet are friendly. A few aren't. Knowing which is which saves time and embarrassment.
Top divided by bottom. 3/4 = 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75. Done.
1/2 = 0.5, 1/3 ≈ 0.333, 1/4 = 0.25, 1/5 = 0.2, 1/8 = 0.125, 1/10 = 0.1.
1/3 = 0.333... 1/7 = 0.142857142857... Some fractions never resolve cleanly — that's normal.
Algebra (exact arithmetic), recipes (easier to halve), construction (imperial inches). When to decimalise: science, engineering, finance.
Why does 1/3 never end? Because 3 is not a factor of 10 (the base of our number system).
How do I add fractions with different denominators? Find a common denominator first, then add numerators.
Bookmark the calculator linked above — you will need it more often than you think.