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1/50 as a decimal

Divide 1 by 50, or make the bottom 100: 1/50 = 2/100 = 0.02.

The answer

1/50 = 0.02

How to turn 1/50 into a decimal

The quick way is to make an equivalent fraction with a bottom of 100, because hundredths can be written straight down as a decimal.

  1. 50 × 2 = 100.
  2. Do the same to the top: 1 × 2 = 2.
  3. So 1/50 = 2/100, which is 2 hundredths.

2 hundredths is written 0.02: the last digit goes in the hundredths column.

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

  1. 50 does not go into 1, so write 0 and a decimal point, then carry the 1 over as 10 tenths.
  2. 50 goes into 10 0 times, remainder 10. Write 0, and carry the 10 to make 100.
  3. 50 goes into 100 2 times exactly. Write 2.
  4. The remainder is 0, so the division stops: 1 ÷ 50 = 0.02.

1/50 as a fraction, decimal and percentage

FractionDecimalPercentage
1/500.022%

Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the fraction keeps its value: 1/50, 2/100, 3/150, 4/200 and 5/250 are all equal.

2 squares out of 100 are shaded: 2/100, which is 2%.

All the fiftieths

Every fiftieth is 2 hundredths: 1/50 = 2/100 = 0.02, which is 2%.

1/50 sits between 0 and 1/4 (0.25). It is closer to 0.

Keep going

Questions parents ask

What is 1/50 as a decimal?

1/50 = 0.02.

Is 1/50 a recurring decimal?

No. 50 × 2 = 100, so 1/50 is exactly 2/100 and the decimal stops at 0.02.

Is 1/50 more or less than a half?

1/50 is less than a half: 0.02 is less than 0.5. Half of 50 is 25, and 1 is less than 25.

What is 1/50 as a percentage?

1/50 = 2%.

Which fractions are the same as 1/50?

2/100, 3/150, 4/200, 5/250 and every other fraction you make by multiplying the top and bottom of 1/50 by the same number. They all equal 0.02.

Fractions, decimals and percentages run all through 11+ maths

Converting between them turns up in 11+ questions on percentages, ratio, money and data. The free diagnostic checks maths, English and both kinds of reasoning, and shows what to practise next. No card is required.