Last updated on May 26th, 2025
It is a simple question on decimal conversion. Firstly, we need to understand fractions and decimals. A fraction represents a part of a whole. It has two parts: the numerator (the number on the top), which here is 42, representing how many parts out of the whole, and the denominator (the number below), which here is 48, showing how many parts make up the whole. A decimal is a way to represent a number that is not whole, using a decimal point (.) to separate the whole part from the fractional part. The numbers to the left of the decimal point represent the whole, and those to the right represent the fractional part.
42/48 as a decimal can be simplified to 0.875. This is a terminating decimal.
To convert 42/48 into a decimal, we will use the division method. The numerator (42) will be taken as the dividend, and the denominator (48) will be the divisor. Let's break down the process step by step:
Step 1: Simplify the fraction 42/48. Both 42 and 48 are divisible by 6, so we simplify it to 7/8.
Step 2: Now, divide 7 by 8. Since 7 is less than 8, we consider the decimal method by adding a decimal point in the quotient.
Step 3: Make 7 into 70 by considering decimal division.
Step 4: Divide 70 by 8. 8 goes into 70 eight times (8 × 8 = 64).
Step 5: Subtract 64 from 70, which gives 6.
Step 6: Bring down a 0, making it 60. Divide 60 by 8, which gives 7, (8 × 7 = 56).
Step 7: Subtract 56 from 60, which gives 4.
Step 8: Bring down another 0 to make it 40. Divide 40 by 8, which gives 5, (8 × 5 = 40).
Step 9: Subtract 40 from 40, which results in 0. The division process stops here as the remainder is 0, making it a terminating decimal.
The answer for 42/48 as a decimal is 0.875.