Fraction Place Value Method Simulation

written by Teresa Carrigan

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THINGS TO NOTICE

When the base is 2 (binary) the digits are only 0 and 1. In this case, you don't really need the third step (multiplying); just add the place values for the digits that are 1, dropping the digits that are 0.

Some floating point numbers that have only one or two digits past the radix point in one base will have an infinite number when converted to decimal. Which bases do this?

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THINGS TO TRY

Set slow-motion to 0.5, click random, and then click go.

Set the sliders to a problem type you want to drill, then click setup. Attempt one step at a time on paper, and then click the step button to check that you did that step correctly.

Set the base to 3, and to-right to 1. Click setup until a problem appears that does not have a 0 to the right of the radix point. How many digits past the decimal point will the base ten equivalent have?

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Applets on this website were written by Teresa Carrigan in 2004, for use in computer science courses at Blackburn College, with the exception of the Fireworks applet. The applets made with NetLogo require Java 1.4.1 or higher to run. The applets made with NetBeans require Java 1.4.2 or higher to run. Applets might not run on Windows 95 or Mac OS 8 or 9. You may obtain the latest Java plugin from Sun's Java site.