Writing+Fractions+as+Decimals

Changing a Fraction to a Decimal
__Misunderstandings:__
 * Some students do not understand that a fraction can be represented different ways - for example: as a decimal or pictorially without losing any value. See video for an explanation and visual.
 * Students may also struggle with the concept that the numerator of the fraction is divided by the denominator.

__Discussion:__


 * Go back to pictorial representations of fractions and discuss with students the relationship between a whole and the fraction represented.
 * Next discuss with students what a decimal number is verses a whole number.
 * Have students draw pictorial representations for the fraction 1/4 and the decimal 0.25.
 * Talk to students about the relationship between how we represented the fraction with a picture and how we can represent a decimal with a picture.
 * What is similar about the two pictures.
 * Fractions can be written as a decimal and represent the same value.
 * What are other things in life that might look differently but mean the same thing? or represent the same thing (value).
 * For example use synonyms to demonstrate this point:
 * ** Come ** - approach, advance
 * ** Delicious ** - savory, delectable
 * ect.
 * Fractions and decimals are much the same way we can change fractions to decimals or decimals to fractions depending on the math operation that we need to perform or concept we are considering.

__Some Reasons Why?__ > > __Assessment:__Give students a list of fractions and the equivalent decimal. Have students match the correct fraction with the decimal. Have them respond to the question: Write the steps of changing a fraction to a decimal.
 * When comparing fractions it may be easier to compare them if they were written as decimals.
 * Changing a two fractions is a quick and easy way to determine which one has the greatest value.
 * It may also be easier for some students to change decimals into percents.
 * Decimals are easier to change into fractions because it only requires moving the decimal two place values to get the percent. This is a good shortcut to teach to students.