How do you write 5/9 as a decimal?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking how to convert the fraction 5/9 into decimal form, essentially performing the division of 5 by 9.
Answer
$0.\overline{5}$
Answer for screen readers
The decimal form of the fraction $\frac{5}{9}$ is $0.\overline{5}$.
Steps to Solve
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Set Up the Division To convert the fraction $\frac{5}{9}$ into decimal form, we need to divide 5 by 9.
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Perform Long Division Start dividing 5 by 9. Since 5 is less than 9, we can add a decimal point and zeros to 5, making it 5.000.
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Divide Step-by-Step Divide 9 into 50 (the first two digits in 5.00). 9 goes into 50 five times (since $9 \times 5 = 45$).
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Subtract and Bring Down Now, subtract 45 from 50, which leaves us with 5. Then, bring down the next 0 to make it 50 again.
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Repeat the Process Repeat the division. Again, 9 goes into 50 five times. Subtracting 45, we are left with 5 once more.
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Identify the Repeating Decimal This process will keep repeating, resulting in the decimal $0.555...$, which can be expressed as $0.\overline{5}$ indicating that the digit 5 repeats indefinitely.
The decimal form of the fraction $\frac{5}{9}$ is $0.\overline{5}$.
More Information
The decimal $0.\overline{5}$ means that the digit 5 repeats endlessly. This is a common example of a repeating decimal that arises from dividing certain fractions.
Tips
- Misplacing the decimal point when performing division.
- Not recognizing the repeating pattern and stopping early in the long division process.
