To understand why 7 8 as a decimal equals 3 5, we first need to clarify what these numbers represent. The expression ‘7 8’ is typically interpreted as a mixed fraction, which can be converted into an improper fraction.
First, we convert the mixed number:
- The whole number 7 remains as is.
- The fractional part is 8, which is expressed over a denominator of 1 (since it is a whole number).
- Thus, we combine these two: 7 + 8/1 = (7 * 1 + 8) / 1 = (7 + 8) / 1 = 15/1.
Next, we interpret ‘3 5’. Similar to ‘7 8’, this can also represent a mixed fraction:
- The whole number 3 stays the same.
- The fractional part is 5, written as 5/1. So, 3 5 = 3 + 5/1 = (3 * 1 + 5) / 1 = (3 + 5) / 1 = 8/1.
At this point, we’ve converted both forms into improper fractions:
- 7 8 (as 15/1) is quite different from 3 5 (as 8/1).
To relate these two values to decimals, we need to convert them into decimal form:
- 15 divided by 1 equals 15.00.
- 8 divided by 1 equals 8.00.
In conclusion, the assertion that ‘7 8 as a decimal is 3 5’ is incorrect. In reality, the decimal of 7 8 is 15.00, and the decimal of 3 5 is 8.00. It’s crucial to double-check how mixed numbers and improper fractions are interpreted to avoid confusion.