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Recurring Decimals to Fractions

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Recurring Decimals to Fractions Revision

Recurring Decimals to Fractions 

In this topic, we’ll look at how to go from a recurring decimal to a fraction and vice versa.

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What are Recurring Decimals?

A recurring decimal is any number with a repeated digit or section of repeated digits after a decimal point. We show this with a dot above both the start and the end of the repeated section.

\begin{aligned} \dfrac{1}{3} &= 0.\dot{3} = 0.33333... \\ \dfrac{6}{11} &= 0.\dot{5}\dot{4} = 0.54545454... \end{aligned}

Note: Fractions in which the denominator has prime factors of only 2 or 5 will terminate (not repeat).

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Method 1: Convert Fractions to Recurring Decimals 

To convert a fraction to a recurring decimal, we can find an equivalent fraction that only contains 9‘s on the denominator. The numerator then gives us the recurring (repeating) part of the decimal, in which we put a dot above the first number and the last number.

Example: Write \dfrac{2}{11} as a recurring decimal.

Multiply the top and the bottom of the fraction by 9 to make the denominator have 9‘s in it:

\dfrac{2}{11} = \dfrac{18}{99}

Then the numerator, 18 gives us the recurring part, so we put a dot above the 1 and a dot above the 8. So,

\dfrac{2}{11} = 0.\dot1 \dot8

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Method 2: Convert Fractions to Recurring Decimals 

Another way to convert a fraction to a recurring decimal is to treat the fraction like a division and use some method of division to divide the numerator by the denominator. Here we will use the bus stop method.

Recurring Decimals Bus Stop Method
Recurring Decimals Bus Stop Method

Example: Write \dfrac{5}{37} as a decimal.

We set up the bus stop method as follows, with several zeros after the decimal place.

Recurring Decimals Bus Stop Method
Recurring Decimals Bus Stop Method

Then complete the bus stop method, as follows.

As the decimal repeats itself, it is a recurring decimal which can be written as 0.\dot1 3 \dot5. So,

\dfrac{5}{37} = 0.\dot1 3 \dot5

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Level 6-7GCSEAQAEdexcelOCRWJECCambridge iGCSEEdexcel iGCSE

Convert Recurring Decimals to Fractions

Converting a recurring decimal to a fraction can be a stand alone exam question so it is certainly a skill you want to master.

Example: Write 0.\dot1 4 \dot7 as a fraction in its simplest from.

Step 1: Make your number equal to x.

x= 0.\dot1 4 \dot7

Step 2: Multiply both sides by \textcolor{blue}{10} for each decimal place that isn’t recurring (If there are none, it stays as Step 1).

x= 0.\dot1 4 \dot7

Step 3: Multiply both sides by \textcolor{blue}{10} for each number that is recurring.

1000x = 147.\dot1 4 \dot7

Step 4: Subtract the equations in steps 2 and 3 so that the numbers after the decimal point cancel, then solve for x.

\begin{aligned} 1000x - x &= 147.\dot1 4 \dot7 - 0.\dot1 4 \dot7 \\ 999x &= 147 \\ x &= \dfrac{147}{999} \end{aligned}

Step 5: Simplify the fraction if required.

x = \dfrac{49}{333}

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Level 6-7GCSEAQAEdexcelOCRWJECCambridge iGCSEEdexcel iGCSE

Example 1: Fraction to Decimal

Write \dfrac{7}{33} as a decimal.

[2 marks]

The first thing we need to do is set up the bus stop method.

Fraction to Decimal Bus Stop Method
Fraction to Decimal Bus Stop Method

So, the set up should look like.

Then look to complete the bus stop method.

Fraction to Decimal Bus Stop Method
Fraction to Decimal Bus Stop Method

As the decimal repeats itself, it is a recurring decimal which can be written as 0.\dot{2}\dot{1}. So,

\dfrac{7}{33} = 0.\dot2 \dot1

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Example 2: Recurring Decimal to Fraction

Write 0.\dot{1}\dot{4} as a fraction.

[2 marks]

So, set x = 0.\dot{1}\dot{4}, the thing we want to convert to a fraction. Then,

100x = 14.\dot{1}\dot{4}.

Now that we have two numbers, x and 100x, with the same digits after the decimal point, if we subtract one from another, the numbers after the decimal point will cancel.

\begin{aligned} 100x -x &= 14.\dot{1}\dot{4} - 0.\dot{1}\dot{4} \\ 99x &= 14 \end{aligned}

Then, if we divide both sides of this by 99, we get

 

x = \dfrac{14}{99}

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Example 3: Recurring Decimal to Fraction

Write 0.8\dot{3} as a fraction.

[2 marks]

So, let x = 0.8\dot{3}. This time, we take 10x = 8.\dot{3} and 100x = 83.\dot{3}, then we have two multiples of x that have the same digits after the decimal point.

So, subtracting one from the other, we get

\begin{aligned} 100x - 10x &= 90x \\ 83.\dot{3} - 8.\dot{3} &= 83 - 8 = 75 \\ 90x &= 75 \end{aligned}

Dividing both sides by 90, we get that

x = \dfrac{75}{90} = \dfrac{5}{6}

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Recurring Decimals to Fractions Example Questions

Treating this fraction as a division, we will use the bus stop method to find the result of dividing 1 by 9. The result of the division should look like,

 

\;\;\;\;0.\;1\;1\;1\;1\;1\;\\9\overline{\left)1.0{}^10{}^10{}^10{}^10\right.}

 

Hence,

 

\dfrac{1}{9} = 0.\dot{1}

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If we let x=0.\dot{3} and 10x=3.\dot{3}

 

Then x and 10x are identical after the decimal place. Hence if we subtract one from the other then everything after the decimal point shall cancel.

 

10x - x = 9x = 3.\dot{3} - 0.\dot{3} = 3

Thus if we rearrange to make x the subject then,

 

x=\dfrac{3}{9}=\dfrac{1}{3}

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If we let x = 0.\dot{3}9\dot{0} and 1,000x = 390.\dot{3}9\dot{0}

 

Then x and 1,000x are identical after the decimal place. Hence if we subtract one from the other then everything after the decimal point shall cancel.

 

1,000x - x = 999x = 390.\dot{3}9\dot{0} - 0.\dot{3}9\dot{0} = 390

 

Thus if we rearrange to make x the subject then,

 

x = \dfrac{390}{999}

 

This simplifies to,

 

x = 0.\dot{3}9\dot{0} = \dfrac{130}{333}

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Treating this fraction as a division, we will use short division to find the result of dividing 10 by 11. The result of the short division should look like,

 

\;\;\;\;\;0\;\;.9\;\;0\;\;9\;\;0\;\;9\;\;0\;\;9\;\;0\\11\overline{\left)10.0{}^10{}^{10}0{}^10{}^{10}0{}^10{}^{10}0{}^10\right.}

Hence,

 

\dfrac{10}{11} = 0.\dot{9}\dot{0}

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If we let x = 1.5\dot{4} then 10x = 15.\dot{4} and 100x = 154.\dot{4}

 

Then, both 10x and 100x are identical after the decimal place. Hence, we are able to subtract one from the other in order that everything after the decimal point shall cancel.

 

100x - 10x = 90x = 154.\dot{4} - 15.\dot{4} = 154 - 15 = 139

 

Thus if we rearrange to make x the subject then,

 

x = \dfrac{139}{90}

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