5 1/2 as a Decimal

Answer

5 1/2 in decimal form can be written as 5.5. This is a terminating decimal.

Explanation

To convert 5 1/2 to a decimal, we need to convert the fractional part 1/2 to a decimal and then add it to the whole number 5.

Let's see the step-by-step breakdown of the process:

Step 1: Identify the whole part and fractional part of the mixed number. Here, the whole part is 5, and the fractional part is 1/2.

Step 2: Convert the fractional part to a decimal. To convert 1/2 to a decimal, divide the numerator (1) by the denominator (2).

Step 3: 1 divided by 2 equals 0.5.

Step 4: Add the decimal obtained from the fractional part (0.5) to the whole part (5) to get the decimal form of the mixed number.

Step 5: Therefore, 5 + 0.5 equals 5.5. The decimal representation of 5 1/2 is 5.5, which is a terminating decimal.

• Fraction: A numerical quantity that is not a whole number, representing a part of a whole.
   
• Decimal: A number that uses the base ten and includes a decimal point to separate the whole part from the fractional part.
   
• Mixed Number: A number consisting of a whole number and a fraction combined.
   
• Terminating Decimal: A decimal that ends and does not repeat infinitely.
   
• Division: The process of determining how many times one number is contained within another.