R Prealgebra Review
R.2 Decimals and Percents
Objectives
1. Write decimals as fractions.
2. Add and subtract decimals.
3. Multiply and divide decimals.
4. Write fractions as decimals.
5. Convert percents to decimals and decimals to
percents.
6. Use fraction, decimal, and percent equivalents.
Writing Decimals as Fractions
Converting a Decimal to a Fraction
Read the name using the correct place value.
Write it in fraction form just as you read it. The
denominator will be a power of 10, a number like
10, 100, 1000, and so on.
Writing Decimals as Fractions
Example 1
Write each decimal as a fraction. Do not write in lowest terms.
(a) 0.85
85
This is read “85 hundredths.” So 0.85 .
100
(b) 0.029
29
This is read “29 thousandths.” So 0.029 .
1000
(c) 3.5907
This is read “3 and 5907 ten-thousandths”. So
5907 30,000 5907 35,907
3.5907 3
10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000
Adding and Subtracting Decimals
Example 2
Add or subtract as indicated.
(a) 13.129 + 0.25 + 5.6 13.129 Attach zeros to
make all the
Add decimals in a column. Make 0.250
0.25 numbers the
sure the decimal points line up.
+ 5.600
5.6 same length.
18.979
(b) 2 – 0.329
2.000 Attach zeros.
Rewrite the operation in a
– 00.329
.329
column.
1.671
Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
Multiplying Decimals
Step 1: Ignore the decimal points and multiply as
if the numbers were whole numbers.
Step 2: Add the number of decimal places (digits
to the right of the decimal point) in each number
being multiplied. Place the decimal point in the
answer that many digits from the right.
Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
Example 3
Multiply.
12.3 × 9.18 12.3 1 decimal place
× 9.18 2 decimal places
984 1+2=3
1230
110700
112.914 3 decimal places
Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
Dividing Decimals
Step 1: Change the divisor (the number you are
dividing by) into a whole number by moving the
decimal point as many places as necessary to the
right.
Step 2: Move the decimal point in the dividend
(the number you are dividing into) to the right by
the same number of places.
Step 3: Move the decimal point straight up and
then divide as with whole numbers.
5 Quotient
Divisor 25 125
Dividend
Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
Example 4
Divide.
12.5 0.25 0.25012.5
50. 0
25 1250.
1250
0
So, 12.5 0.25 = 50
Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
Multiplying or Dividing by Powers of 10
To multiply by a power of 10, move the decimal
point to the right as many places as the number
of zeros.
To divide by a power of 10, move the decimal
point to the left as many places as the number of
zeros.
In both cases, insert 0s as placeholders if
necessary.
Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
Example 5
Multiply or divide as indicated.
a) 5.17624 1000 5176.24
We moved the decimal point three places to the right
because 1000 has three zeros.
b) 823.25 10,000 0.082325
We moved the decimal point four places to the left
because 10,000 has four zeros. We needed to insert
a zero in front of the 8 to do this.
Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
Rule for Rounding
If the digit to become 0 or be dropped is 5 or more,
round up by adding 1 to the final digit to be kept.
If the digit to become 0 or be dropped is 4 or less,
do not round up.
Writing Fractions as Decimals
Writing a Fraction as a Decimal
Because a fraction bar indicates division, write a
fraction as a decimal by dividing the denominator
into the numerator.
Writing Fractions as Decimals
Example 6
25
Write as a decimal.
16 1.5625
16 25
16
90
80
100
96
40 25
32 = 1.5625
80 16
80
0
Converting Percents to Decimals and Decimals to Percents
1
1% = 0.01 or 1% =
100
Example 7
Write 65% as a decimal.
65% = 65 · 1% = 65 · 0.01 = 0.65
Converting Percents to Decimals and Decimals to Percents
Note
A quick way to change from a percent to a decimal is to
move the decimal point two places to the left and drop
the % symbol. To change from a decimal to a percent,
move the decimal point two places to the right and
attach a percent symbol.
Divide by 100;
Move 2 places left.
Decimal Percent
Multiply by 100;
Move 2 places right.
Converting Percents and Decimals
Example 8
Convert each percent to a decimal and each decimal to a percent.
a) 32% = 32. = 0.32 c) 0.95 = 0.95 = 95%
b) 175% = 175. = 1.75 d) 3.15 = 3.15 = 315%