Which of the following numbers can be expressed as a decimal that terminates? seven over four, five over nine, three over eight, two over three
(1) Answers
All simplified fractions whose denominator is a product of powers of two and five can be expressed as a decimal that terminates (i.e. NOT a recurring decimal). Therefore 1/3 will give a recurring decimal, 1/16 (16=2^4) will give a terminating decimal, namely 0.0625 1/125 (125=5^3) = 0.008, etc. So 7/4 since 2*2=4, the decimal will terminate (1.75) 5/9, since there is a factor of 3 in the denominator (not 2, not 5), decimal is recurring. 3/8, since 2*2*2=8, decimal will terminate (0.375) 2/3 again, 3 in the denominator means fraction will not terminate.
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