Question

Ariel incorrectly says that 2 5/8 is the same as 2.58

a. convert 2 5/8 to a decimal
b. what was Ariel's likely error?​

Answer 1

Explanation:

a.

2 5/8 =
`(5 + 2*8)/(8) = (21)/(8)`

By using a calculator, you can have

21 / 8 = 2.625.

Or if we use a traditional method:

8*2 = 16.

left: 21 - 16 = 5.

8*0.6 = 4.8,

left: 0.2

8*0.02 = 0.16,

left: 0.04

8*0.005 = 0.04,

and left = 0,

therefore 21 / 8 = 2.625.

But this is not recommended if you have access to calculator.

b.

Ariel's likely error was that she misinterpreted the symbols presented like / and .

Although "2" was accurately converted to decimal as 2.xx, her conversion was inaccurate because 5/8 does not equal to 0.58, but should be properly converted to decimal by division.