How do I turn 3/4 into a decimal?

Divide 3 by 4, which gives 0.75.

Why do some fractions repeat forever?

When the denominator has prime factors other than 2 and 5, the division never terminates, so the decimal repeats.

How do I convert a fraction to a percentage?

Turn it into a decimal by dividing, then multiply by 100 — 3/4 becomes 0.75, then 75%.

How to Convert a Fraction to a Decimal

Published 8/26/2025 · 2 min read · Everyday calculators

Lena Hoffmann — Science & education writer at Allin

Mathematics · Physics

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In short

To convert a fraction to a decimal, divide the top number (numerator) by the bottom number (denominator). 3/4 is 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75, and 1/8 is 1 ÷ 8 = 0.125. Some fractions give a repeating decimal — 1/3 = 0.333… — which you round or mark with a bar. To then get a percentage, multiply the decimal by 100.

Divide the top number by the bottom. Here's the rule, why some fractions repeat, how to round them, and how to turn the result into a percentage.

Divide top by bottom

A fraction is really just a division waiting to happen: the line between the numbers means 'divided by'. So 3/4 is 3 ÷ 4, which equals 0.75, and 1/8 is 1 ÷ 8 = 0.125. If the top is bigger than the bottom, the decimal is greater than 1 — 5/4 is 1.25. That single rule turns any fraction into a decimal.

Terminating vs repeating decimals

Some fractions divide cleanly and stop — 3/4 = 0.75, 7/8 = 0.875. Others never end: 1/3 = 0.333…, 1/7 = 0.142857… repeating forever. The rule is neat: a fraction terminates only if its denominator (in lowest terms) has no prime factors other than 2 and 5. Any other factor, like the 3 in 1/3, makes it repeat.

Rounding recurring decimals

For a repeating decimal you either round to as many places as you need or write it with a bar over the repeating part. 1/3 rounds to 0.33 or 0.333, and in maths is written as 0.3 with a bar. Round only at the end of a calculation, not partway through, so you don't build up error along the way.

Fraction to decimal to percentage

Once you have the decimal, a percentage is one more step: multiply by 100. So 3/4 = 0.75 = 75%, and 1/8 = 0.125 = 12.5%. This chain — divide, then times 100 — is the reliable way to compare fractions, decimals and percentages, since it puts them all on the same footing.

Decimal to fraction calculatorConvert a decimal number into a simplified fraction.Try the tool →

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn 3/4 into a decimal?: Divide 3 by 4, which gives 0.75.
Why do some fractions repeat forever?: When the denominator has prime factors other than 2 and 5, the division never terminates, so the decimal repeats.
How do I convert a fraction to a percentage?: Turn it into a decimal by dividing, then multiply by 100 — 3/4 becomes 0.75, then 75%.

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