Why does my child write 0.444... as 4/10?
Your child writes a recurring decimal over 10 or 100, such as 0.444... as 4/10 instead of 4/9.
Why children do it
Decimals are tenths and hundredths, so 4/10 is a natural first try. But 4/10 is 0.4, which stops, and 0.444... goes on for ever: it's 4/9. Dividing the fraction back out on a calculator shows which is right.
How to help at home
Ask them to divide their fraction: 4 ÷ 10 is 0.4, which stops, but 0.444... goes on.
The right way
Write 0.444... as a fraction in simplest form.
- 4/9One digit repeating for ever is that digit over 9.
Find out where your child is
A free maths check, in about 15 minutes, shows what your child knows and the mistakes they make. No sign-up.
Start the free checkRelated mistakes
- Why does my child write 45 000 as 4.5 × 10³?
- Why does my child write 0.00045 as 4.5 × 10⁴?
- Why does my child think 3.2 × 10⁴ = 320 000?
- Why does my child think x² × x³ = x⁶?
- Why does my child think x⁸ ÷ x² = x⁴?
- Why does my child think 3x² × 4x³ = 7x⁵?
- Why does my child think (x²)³ = x⁵?
- Why does my child think (2x³)² = 2x⁶?
- Why does my child think 5⁰ = 0?
- Why does my child think 2⁻³ = −8?
- Why does my child think 3x⁻² × 5x⁶ = 15x⁸?
- Why does my child think √9 + √16 = √25?
- Why does my child think √48 = 16√3?
- Why does my child think 8^(1/3) = 8/3?
- Why does my child think √9 is irrational?