How to Simplify Fractions After Changing Them from Decimals

Learning how to simplify fractions after turning them into decimals is an important skill in Year 7 math. Here’s a simple guide to help you get the hang of it.

Step 1: Change Decimal to Fraction

First, let’s take a decimal. For example, consider $0.75$. To convert this into a fraction, we can write it as:

$0.75 = \frac{75}{100}$

This means $0.75$ is the same as saying 75 out of 100.

Step 2: Simplify the Fraction

Now we have a fraction, and the next step is to simplify it. Simplifying means we need to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the top number (numerator) and the bottom number (denominator).

For our fraction $\frac{75}{100}$, both numbers can be divided by their GCD, which is $25$. So, we divide:

$\frac{75 \div 25}{100 \div 25} = \frac{3}{4}$

Now, the simplified form of the fraction is $\frac{3}{4}$.

Example to Help You Understand

Let’s look at another decimal, $0.2$. To change this into a fraction, we write:

$0.2 = \frac{2}{10}$

Next, we need to simplify it. The GCD of $2$ and $10$ is $2$, so we divide both by $2$:

$\frac{2 \div 2}{10 \div 2} = \frac{1}{5}$

This means $0.2$ simplifies to $\frac{1}{5}$.

Quick Tips

• Find the GCD: Always look for the GCD to help you simplify fractions easily.
• Practice: The more you practice different decimals, the better you’ll get at converting and simplifying them.

By following these steps and tips, you'll soon find that changing decimals to fractions and simplifying them is easy! Keep practicing, and you’ll become a fraction expert in no time!