Convert 3.2 to a mixed number.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to convert the decimal number 3.2 into a mixed number, which combines a whole number and a proper fraction.
Answer
The mixed number form of 3.2 is \( 3 \frac{1}{5} \).
Answer for screen readers
The mixed number form of 3.2 is ( 3 \frac{1}{5} ).
Steps to Solve
- Identify the whole number part
The whole number part of the decimal 3.2 is 3.
- Identify the fractional part
To find the proper fraction, we look at the decimal part, which is 0.2.
- Convert the decimal to a fraction
We can express 0.2 as a fraction. Since it is in the tenths place, we can write it as:
$$ 0.2 = \frac{2}{10} $$
- Simplify the fraction
The fraction can be simplified by dividing the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD), which is 2:
$$ \frac{2}{10} = \frac{1}{5} $$
- Combine the whole number and the fraction
Finally, we combine the whole number and the simplified fraction to form a mixed number:
$$ 3.2 = 3 \frac{1}{5} $$
The mixed number form of 3.2 is ( 3 \frac{1}{5} ).
More Information
Converting decimals to mixed numbers is a useful skill, especially in the context of fractions and measurements in cooking, construction, or when dealing with units in science. Understanding how to represent decimals as mixed numbers can deepen your comprehension of how numbers relate to each other.
Tips
- Forgetting to convert and simplify the fraction: Ensure that the decimal is properly converted to a fraction and simplified.
- Misidentifying the whole number: Sometimes, people confuse the decimal part and mistakenly take the whole number incorrectly.