def convert_to_float(frac_str):
    """
    convert string of fraction (1/3) to float (0.3333)
    Parameters
    ----------
    frac_str: string, string to be transloated into
    Returns
    -------
    float value corresponding to the string of fraction
    """
    try:
        return float(frac_str)
    except ValueError:
        num, denom = frac_str.split('/')
        try:
            leading, num = num.split(' ')
            whole = float(leading)
        except ValueError:
            whole = 0
        frac = float(num) / float(denom)
        return whole - frac if whole < 0 else whole + frac