MI terminating Page 1 Thursday, June 28, 2001 2:07 PM

INVESTIGATION
STRAND: Number www.jaconline.com.au/mathsquestqld
CHAPTER: Decimal fractions

Terminating and
recurring decimals
To convert a common fraction to a decimal fraction we divide the numerator (top number) by the denominator (bottom number).
We stop the division when the decimal either terminates (there is no remainder) or recurs (a pattern of digits begins repeating).
In this investigation we are going to examine the types of fractions that produce both terminating and recurring decimals.

LITERACY TASK • Find the meanings of these key terms:

1. terminating:.......................................................................................................................................................................
2. recurring:...........................................................................................................................................................................
3. prime number: ..................................................................................................................................................................
4. prime factor:......................................................................................................................................................................
5. numerator:.........................................................................................................................................................................
6. denominator: .....................................................................................................................................................................

Whether or not the decimal representation of a fraction will terminate depends on the prime factors of the denominator.
1. Complete the table below which illustrates this fact:

Prime factors of the Terminating or

Fraction Decimal equivalent
denominator recurring?
1
---
2

1
---
3

1
---
4

1
---
5

1
--- 2 and 3 0.16 Recurring
6

1
---
7

1
---
8

1
---
9

1
------ 2 and 5 0.1 Terminating
10

1
------
11

 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2004

MQQLD1-terminating.pdf
MI terminating Page 2 Thursday, June 28, 2001 2:07 PM

STRAND: Number INVESTIGATION: Terminating and

CHAPTER: Decimal fractions
recurring decimals
Prime factors of the Terminating or
Fraction Decimal equivalent
denominator recurring?
1
------
12

1
------
14

1
------
15

1
------
16

1
------
20

1
------
24

1
------
25

1
------
30

1
------
35

1
------
40

1
------
45

1
------
50

2. Look at the terminating decimals in the table. What do you notice about the prime factors of these denominators?
3. Use this information to determine if the following fractions will produce terminating or recurring decimals:
13 17
(a) --------
- (b) --------
- (c) 137
--------- (d) 15 1
(e) --------
------ -
100 250 300
63 400
4. The decimal representation of the fraction 1--- produces the recurring decimal 0.142857. It is said to have a period of 6 as
7
the pattern repeats every six digits. State the period for each of the recurring decimals listed in the table above.
5. Find the period for the following fractions with prime denominators:
1 1 1
(a) -----
- (b) -----
- (c) -----
-
13 17 19
6. It has been claimed that the decimal representation of the fraction --1- , where p is a prime number, will have a period of
p
length (p – 1). Is this correct?

 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2004

MQQLD1-terminating.pdf