1/5 as a decimal

The quick way is to make an equivalent fraction with a bottom of 10, because tenths can be written straight down as a decimal.

1. 5 × 2 = 10.
2. Do the same to the top: 1 × 2 = 2.
3. So 1/5 = 2/10, which is 2 tenths.

2 tenths is written 0.2: the last digit goes in the tenths column.

You can also divide the top by the bottom. Short division gives the same answer:

1. 5 does not go into 1, so write 0 and a decimal point, then carry the 1 over as 10 tenths.
2. 5 goes into 10 2 times exactly. Write 2.
3. The remainder is 0, so the division stops: 1 ÷ 5 = 0.2.

Every fifth is 2 tenths: 1/5 is 1 × 2 = 2 tenths, which is 0.2.

1/5 sits between 0 and 1/4 (0.25). It is closer to 1/4.