What is the decimal equivalent of 5/8?

The decimal equivalent of 5/8 is 0.625.

To convert the fraction 5/8 into a decimal, you need to perform division. The fraction 5/8 means 5 divided by 8. When you divide 5 by 8, you get 0.625. This is because 5 divided by 8 equals 0.625 exactly, with no remainder.

Understanding this process can be helpful in many areas of maths, including when you need to compare fractions and decimals or when you are working with percentages. For example, knowing that 5/8 is 0.625 can help you quickly determine that it is 62.5% when converted to a percentage (since 0.625 multiplied by 100 equals 62.5).

Another way to understand this conversion is by using long division. When you divide 5 by 8 using long division, you add a decimal point and zeros to the dividend (5.000), and then proceed with the division. You will find that 8 goes into 50 six times (since 8 x 6 = 48), leaving a remainder of 2. Bringing down another zero makes it 20, and 8 goes into 20 two times (since 8 x 2 = 16), leaving a remainder of 4. Bringing down another zero makes it 40, and 8 goes into 40 five times (since 8 x 5 = 40), leaving no remainder. Thus, you get 0.625.

This method ensures you understand the relationship between fractions and decimals, which is a key skill in GCSE Maths.