5/8 as a decimal is 0.625.
Answer
5/8 = 0.625.
How to convert
Divide 5 by 8 to get 0.625.
As a percent
62.5 percent.
Related fractions
- 1/8 = 0.125.
- 3/8 = 0.375.
- 7/8 = 0.875.
- 1/2 = 0.5.
Check
8 x 0.625 = 5.
Uses
5/8 inch equals 15.9 mm. It’s a common size for drywall, wrenches and plywood.
Long division
8 into 5.000 gives 0.625 exactly, a terminating decimal.
Answer
5/8 as a decimal is 0.625. As a percentage, it is 62.5%.
How to convert
Divide the numerator by the denominator: 5 divided by 8 equals 0.625. Another method is to make the denominator a power of 10. Since 8 times 125 equals 1,000, multiply the top and bottom by 125: 5 times 125 is 625, so the fraction is 625/1,000, which is 0.625.
Long division
Set up 5.000 divided by 8. 8 goes into 50 six times (48), with remainder 2. Bring down 0 to make 20. 8 goes into 20 twice (16), remainder 4. Bring down 0 to make 40. 8 goes into 40 five times exactly. The result is 0.625, with no remainder, so the decimal terminates.
Why it terminates
A fraction in lowest terms terminates as a decimal only if the denominator has no prime factors other than 2 and 5. Since 8 is 2 times 2 times 2, 5/8 gives a finite decimal. Fractions like 1/3 or 1/7 repeat forever because their denominators contain 3 and 7.
As a percent
Multiply the decimal by 100: 0.625 times 100 is 62.5%.
Related eighths
- 1/8 = 0.125
- 2/8 = 1/4 = 0.25
- 3/8 = 0.375
- 4/8 = 1/2 = 0.5
- 5/8 = 0.625
- 6/8 = 3/4 = 0.75
- 7/8 = 0.875
Each eighth adds 0.125 to the previous one.
Uses
Five eighths of an inch is common in carpentry, plumbing and tool sizes. 5/8 inch equals 15.875 millimeters. A 5/8 inch drill bit or wrench is a standard size. Five eighths is also used in cooking: 5/8 cup is 10 tablespoons, or 150 milliliters.
Check
Multiply 0.625 by 8 to get 5. That confirms the answer. Another check: 0.625 is between 0.5 (1/2) and 0.75 (3/4), which is where 5/8 should sit.
Mixed numbers
2 and 5/8 equals 2.625. 1 and 5/8 equals 1.625.
Extra context on the fraction
5/8 equals 0.625 as a decimal, 62.5 percent, and 1.6 in its reciprocal form (8/5). It sits between 1/2 (0.5) and 3/4 (0.75). In inches, 5/8 is a common wrench and socket size, equal to 15.875 millimeters. A 5/8 inch socket is used on many bolts. In recipes, 5/8 cup is 10 tablespoons, or 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons. All fractions with denominators that contain only factors of 2 and 5 produce terminating decimals, which is why eighths, tenths and twentieths end. Other eighths: 1/8 is 0.125, 3/8 is 0.375, 7/8 is 0.875. Multiplying 5/8 by 125 over 125 gives 625/1000, which shows the decimal.
Based on data from standard mathematics references
