What is 3 1/2 as a decimal?
We can define a decimal number as the number whose fractional part and the whole number part are separated by a decimal point.
Answer: 3 1/2 as a decimal is 3.5.
Let's learn the two methods to write 3 1/2 as a decimal.
Explanation:
Method 1: Writing 3 1/2 as a decimal using the division method.
To convert any fraction to decimal form, we just need to divide its numerator by denominator.
To perform any operation, the first step is to change any mixed fraction to an improper fraction.
Here, the fraction is 3 1/2 which means we need to perform 7 ÷ 2 [3 1/2 is in mixed fraction so on converting to improper fraction we got 7 / 2]
This gives the answer as 3.5. So, 3 1/2 as a decimal is 3.5.
Method 2: Writing 3 1/2 as a decimal by converting the denominator to powers of 10.
Step 1: Find a number that we can multiply by the denominator of the fraction to make it 10 or 100 or 1000 and so on.
Step 2: Multiply both numerator and denominator by that number to convert it into its equivalent fraction.
Step 3: Then write down just the numerator, putting the decimal point in the correct place, that is, one space from the right-hand side for every zero in the denominator.
3 1/2 = 7/2 = (7 × 50) / (2 × 50) = 350/100 = 3.5
Irrespective of the methods used, the answer to 3 1/2 as a decimal will always remain the same.
You can also verify your answer using Cuemath's fraction to decimal calculator.