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Fractions and Decimals

🌟 Introduction: Why Fractions and Decimals Matter

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Fractions and decimals can feel tricky at first, but they’re simply another way of representing parts of a whole. Children often struggle with these because they’re abstract. That’s why it’s so important for parents to explain them in practical, relatable ways.

Whether you're dividing a pizza, measuring ingredients, or using money, you're using fractions and decimals all the time. This chapter will help you make these invisible concepts visible, using objects right at home.

🎯 Learning Objectives

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By the end of this chapter, you’ll be able to:

  • Explain what fractions and decimals are and how they relate to each other.

  • Use real-world examples (food, money, measuring cups) to demonstrate them.

  • Teach children how to read, compare, and convert between fractions and decimals.

  • Build your child’s confidence using simple strategies and games.

🧠 Core Concept: What Are Fractions?

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➗ Fractions = Part of a Whole

A fraction shows how many parts of a whole we have.
It has two parts:

  • The numerator (top number) tells how many parts you have.

  • The denominator (bottom number) tells how many equal parts the whole is divided into.

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Example:
If you slice a pizza into 4 equal pieces and eat 1, you’ve eaten 1/4 of the pizza.

🟢 1 out of 4 slices = 1/4

Common objects: pizzas, chocolate bars, cakes, orange segments

💰 Core Concept: What Are Decimals?

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Decimals = Another Way to Show Parts of a Whole (Using 10s)

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A decimal is a number with a dot that separates whole numbers from parts.
It’s based on tenths, hundredths, thousandths, and so on.

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Example:
0.5 means “five tenths” = 1/2
0.25 means “twenty-five hundredths” = 1/4

Decimals are everywhere: in money ($1.25), measurements (2.3 kg), and time (0.75 hours)

🔁 Fractions and Decimals: How They Connect

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Fractions and decimals represent the same idea, just in different formats.

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You can convert between them by:

  • Dividing the numerator by the denominator (e.g., 1 ÷ 4 = 0.25)

  • Or using visual models (e.g., coloring 3 out of 4 boxes)

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How to Convert Fractions to Decimals

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Method: Divide the Numerator by the Denominator

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Example: Convert 1/5 to a decimal
This means you divide 1 by 5.

We are asking:

"How many times does 5 go into 1?"

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Step-by-Step:

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Step 1: Understand the meaning of 1 ÷ 5

  • This means we are dividing 1 whole into 5 equal parts.

  • Think of 1 chocolate bar being shared among 5 people.

  • Each person will get 1/5 of the bar.

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Step 2: Set it up as a division problem

We write it like this:

     1.0/5

We add decimal places (extra zeros) after 1 to help divide.
Now we are dividing 10 tenths by 5.

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Step 3: Divide

​Now we are dividing 1.0/5

If we divide 10/5, the answer will be 2, but in this case, there is 1.0 instead of 10.

So, we have to add a decimal point in front of the answer. In this case, the answer is 2, and if we add a decimal point in front of 2, it will become 0.2

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Finally, the answer is 1/5 = 0.2

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More Examples:

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1. Convert 3/4 to a decimal

- 3/4

- 3.0/4 (add 0 after decimal because 3 cannot be directly divided by 4)

- 30/4 = 7 but still 2 left from 30 (7 * 4 = 28, and 30 - 28 = 2 left)

- 2/4 (2 is left from up)

- 2.0/4 (add 0 after decimal because 3 cannot be directly divided by 4)

- 20/4 = 5 

- Now the final answer is 75, and we have used the 0 after the decimal 2 times, so we need to add a decimal to the answer before the last 2 digits.

- As our answer is only 2 digits which is 75, and after put decimal, the final answer will become 0.75
-3 ÷ 4 = 0.75 → So, 3/4 = 0.75

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2. Convert 1/2 to a decimal
1 ÷ 2 = 0.5 → So, 1/2 = 0.5

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3. Convert 2/3 to a decimal
2 ÷ 3 = 0.666... → So, 2/3 = 0.666… (repeating)

How to Convert Decimals to Fractions

 

Use place value to write the decimal as a fraction, then simplify.

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Examples:

Convert 0.5 to a fraction
0.5 = 5 tenths = 5/10 → Simplified = 1/2

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Convert 0.25 to a fraction
0.25 = 25 hundredths = 25/100 → Simplified = 1/4

 

Convert 0.2 to a fraction
0.2 = 2 tenths = 2/10 → Simplified = 1/5

🏡 Real-Life Applications at Home

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Fractions:

  • Cut an apple or sandwich in halves, thirds, or quarters

  • Use measuring cups (1/2 cup, 1/4 cup) while cooking

  • Share snacks: 1 bar split into 3 kids = 1/3 each

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Decimals:

  • Read price tags: $2.99 = 2 dollars and 99 cents

  • Weigh fruits: 1.5 kg = 1 kg + half a kg

  • Pour water using measurements: 0.75L, 0.5L

💡 Teaching Tips for Parents

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  • Start with visuals: use food, money, and measuring cups.

  • Draw circles, squares, or bars to represent fractions.

  • Use a number line to show where decimals fall between whole numbers.

  • Reinforce the idea that fractions and decimals are different languages saying the same thing.

📖 Step-by-Step Examples

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🍕 Fractions

Problem: What fraction of the pizza is left if you eat 2 out of 8 slices?
→ Left: 6 out of 8 = 6/8 (can be simplified to 3/4)

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Problem: Share 1 chocolate bar equally with 3 friends
→ Each person gets 1/3

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💵 Decimals

Problem: You have $1.25. How much is that in cents?
→ 1 dollar = 100 cents, so 1.25 = 125 cents

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Problem: Measure 1.5 liters of water
→ 1 liter + half liter (use 500ml measuring cup)

📝 Practice Time

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A. Fractions

  1. What fraction of a pizza is 2 slices out of 6?

  2. Is 3/4 greater or less than 2/3?

  3. Simplify: 6/8 = ___

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B. Decimals

  1. What is 1/2 as a decimal?

  2. Write 0.75 as a fraction

  3. Which is bigger: 0.4 or 0.25?

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C. Conversion

  1. Convert 1/5 into decimal

  2. Convert 0.6 into fraction

  3. Which is greater: 0.3 or 1/4?

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent-Child Activity: “Fraction Pizza Game”

 

What You Need: Paper plate, scissors, crayons
Instructions:

  1. Cut the plate into 4, 6, or 8 equal pieces.

  2. Color different parts to show fractions (e.g., 2 out of 4 = 1/2).

  3. Ask your child to convert the fraction to decimal (e.g., 1/2 = 0.5)

  4. Mix and match slices to make a full plate again!

🔄 Check-In: Mini Quiz

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  1. What is 3/4 as a decimal?

  2. If a cake is cut into 10 pieces and you eat 3, what fraction did you eat?

  3. Which is more: 0.8 or 4/5?

  4. Is 1/2 the same as 0.5?

✅ Summary & Key Takeaways

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  • Fractions show parts of a whole using two numbers.

  • Decimals show the same thing using a point and place value.

  • You can use food, money, and measuring tools at home to explain both.

  • Practice converting between fractions and decimals—it helps build number sense.

  • Keep lessons visual, hands-on, and fun!

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You’re not just teaching math—you’re showing your child how to see parts, wholes, and value in everything around them.

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