The Decimal for 1/6: A Comprehensive Guide
1/6 is a common fraction that can be expressed as 0.1666... in decimal form. This means that 1/6 is equal to 16.66% of 1. In other words, 1/6 is approximately 17% of the whole.
Understanding the Decimal for 1/6
The decimal for 1/6 is a non-terminating decimal, which means that it goes on forever without repeating. This is because 1/6 cannot be expressed as a finite fraction. The decimal expansion of 1/6 is:
1/6 = 0.166666...
The dots (...) indicate that the decimal expansion continues indefinitely.
Practical Applications
a) Finance: The decimal for 1/6 is useful for calculating percentages. For example, if you want to find out what 1/6 of $100 is, you can multiply 100 by 0.166666 to get $16.67.
b) Measurement: The decimal for 1/6 can also be used for measurement. For example, if you want to cut a 6-foot piece of wood into 6 equal pieces, you can multiply 6 by 0.166666 to get 1 foot.
c) Ratios: The decimal for 1/6 can be used to compare fractions. For example, if you want to compare 1/6 to 1/4, you can divide 1/6 by 1/4 to get 2/3.
Decimal to Percentage Conversion: Step-by-Step Approach
Converting a decimal to a percentage is a simple process. Here's a step-by-step approach:
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Multiply the decimal by 100: Multiply the decimal by 100 to convert it to a percentage. For example, to convert 0.166666 to a percentage, we multiply it by 100 to get 16.6666%.
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Round the result: Round the result to the nearest hundredth. In this example, we would round 16.6666% to 16.67%.
Therefore, 1/6 is approximately 16.67% of the whole.
Decimal to Fraction Conversion: Step-by-Step Approach
Converting a decimal to a fraction can be a bit more challenging, but it's still a straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step approach:
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Write the decimal as a fraction: Write the decimal as a fraction with 1 as the denominator. For example, to convert 0.166666 to a fraction, we write it as 0.166666/1.
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Simplify the fraction: Simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor (GCF). In this example, the GCF of 0.166666 and 1 is 0.000001, so we divide both the numerator and denominator by 0.000001 to get 166666/1000000.
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Convert the improper fraction to a mixed number: Convert the improper fraction to a mixed number if necessary. In this example, the improper fraction 166666/1000000 can be converted to the mixed number 1/6.
Therefore, the decimal 0.166666 is equal to the fraction 1/6.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when working with the decimal for 1/6:
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Thinking that the decimal for 1/6 is a terminating decimal: The decimal for 1/6 is a non-terminating decimal, which means that it goes on forever without repeating. Do not truncate the decimal or round it to a finite number of digits.
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Confusing the decimal for 1/6 with the fraction 1/6: The decimal for 1/6 is not the same as the fraction 1/6. The decimal for 1/6 is an approximation of the fraction 1/6.
Tips and Tricks for Success
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Use a calculator: A calculator can be a helpful tool for converting decimals to fractions and vice versa.
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Practice: The more you practice converting decimals to fractions and vice versa, the easier it will become.
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Understand the concept: It is important to understand the concept of decimals and fractions in order to be able to convert between them.
Stories and Lessons
Story 1:
Sarah is baking a cake and wants to divide it into 6 equal pieces. She cuts the cake into 6 pieces and realizes that one of the pieces is a little smaller than the others. Sarah wants to know what percentage of the whole cake the smaller piece is.
Sarah can use the decimal for 1/6 to calculate the percentage of the whole cake that the smaller piece is. She multiplies 1/6 by 100 to get 16.67%. Therefore, the smaller piece is approximately 16.67% of the whole cake.
Lesson: The decimal for 1/6 can be used to calculate percentages.
Story 2:
John is running a race and wants to know what fraction of the race he has completed. He has run 1/6 of the race so far.
John can convert the decimal for 1/6 to a fraction to find out what fraction of the race he has completed. He multiplies 1/6 by 100 to get 16.67%. Therefore, John has completed approximately 16.67% of the race.
Lesson: The decimal for 1/6 can be used to convert decimals to fractions.
Story 3:
Mary is buying a new car and wants to know what percentage of the total cost of the car she needs to pay as a down payment. The down payment is 1/6 of the total cost of the car.
Mary can convert the decimal for 1/6 to a percentage to find out what percentage of the total cost of the car she needs to pay as a down payment. She multiplies 1/6 by 100 to get 16.67%. Therefore, Mary needs to pay approximately 16.67% of the total cost of the car as a down payment.
Lesson: The decimal for 1/6 can be used to compare fractions.
Additional Resources
