what are all the rules for converting fractions into decimals

ex. divide and patterns

most of us divide the numerator by the denominator.

http://www.webmath.com/cgi-bin/fraction.cgi?top=5&bottom=17&dplaces=3&op=to_decimal&back=fract2dec.html

To convert a fraction into a decimal, you can follow a few different methods. Here are some common rules and techniques:

1. Division Method:
- Divide the numerator (the top number) by the denominator (the bottom number) using long division.
- Keep dividing until you either get a whole number or reach the desired level of decimal places or accuracy.
- Write down the quotient (the result of division) followed by a decimal point.
- If there's a remainder, add a zero and continue dividing.

2. Multiplication Method:
- Multiply the numerator by a power of 10 so that the denominator becomes 10, 100, 1000, etc.
- Divide the new numerator by the new denominator to get the decimal form.
- This method is useful when the denominator is easily converted into a power of 10.

3. Recognizing Patterns:
- Some fractions have repeating decimal patterns that can be recognized.
- For example, 1/3 is equal to 0.33333..., where the digit 3 repeats infinitely.
- You can represent repeating decimals using a bar on top of the repeating digits.

4. Fraction to Decimal Chart:
- Memorize or refer to a fraction to decimal conversion chart to quickly find the decimal equivalent.

Remember, it's essential to be aware of repeating decimal patterns and precision limitations when converting fractions to decimals. Also, keep in mind that some fractions may not have exact decimal representations and may result in repeating decimals or decimals that go on indefinitely without a pattern.