2 1 2 As A Decimal

David Muir

less than a minute read

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09-12-2024

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Converting fractions to decimals is a fundamental skill in mathematics. This guide demonstrates how to easily convert the mixed number 2 1/2 into its decimal equivalent.

Understanding Mixed Numbers and Decimals

A mixed number combines a whole number and a fraction (e.g., 2 1/2). A decimal represents a number using a base-ten system, employing a decimal point to separate the whole number part from the fractional part (e.g., 2.5).

Converting 2 1/2 to a Decimal

There are two primary methods for converting 2 1/2 to a decimal:

Method 1: Converting the Fraction to a Decimal

1. Focus on the fraction: The key is to convert the fraction 1/2 into a decimal. This is a common fraction, and its decimal equivalent is easily memorized: 1/2 = 0.5.

2. Combine with the whole number: Simply add the whole number (2) to the decimal representation of the fraction (0.5). Therefore, 2 1/2 = 2 + 0.5 = 2.5

Method 2: Converting to an Improper Fraction First

1. Convert to an improper fraction: An improper fraction is a fraction where the numerator is larger than or equal to the denominator. To convert 2 1/2 to an improper fraction, we multiply the whole number by the denominator and add the numerator, keeping the same denominator: (2 * 2) + 1 = 5. Thus, 2 1/2 becomes 5/2.

2. Divide the numerator by the denominator: Now, divide the numerator (5) by the denominator (2): 5 ÷ 2 = 2.5

Therefore, using either method, 2 1/2 is equal to 2.5 as a decimal.