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Convert Recurring Decimals To Fractions LESSON

This document discusses converting recurring decimals to fractions. It introduces dot notation to write recurring decimals more concisely. To convert a recurring decimal to a fraction, two decimals with the same recurring part are subtracted from each other. This cancels out the recurring part and leaves the fraction. If there are non-recurring digits after the decimal point, the number is multiplied by a power of 10 to move the recurring part next to the decimal point before doing the subtraction. Examples are provided to demonstrate this process.

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Florence Akosa
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429 views3 pages

Convert Recurring Decimals To Fractions LESSON

This document discusses converting recurring decimals to fractions. It introduces dot notation to write recurring decimals more concisely. To convert a recurring decimal to a fraction, two decimals with the same recurring part are subtracted from each other. This cancels out the recurring part and leaves the fraction. If there are non-recurring digits after the decimal point, the number is multiplied by a power of 10 to move the recurring part next to the decimal point before doing the subtraction. Examples are provided to demonstrate this process.

Uploaded by

Florence Akosa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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com

Converting Recurring Decimals To Fractions


Starter
1. (Review of last lesson) Imani is a phenomenal rugby player in 8 games she scored 17
tries. Given that each try is worth 5 points, calculate her average points per game.

1 2
2. Write down the decimal equivalent of: (a) (b)
3 3

Notes
0.333... and 0.666... are examples of recurring decimals — they are when the digits are
repeated continuously.

Notation
Dot notation is used to make the writing of recurring decimals quicker.
·
E.g. 2.555... = 2.5

Two dots can be used to show that more than one digit is being repeated.
··
E.g. 0.72 = 0.727272...

When the two dots are separated, the digits in between the dots are also repeated.
· ·
E.g. 8.614 = 8.614614614...
· ·
E.g. 0.523189 = 0.52318931893189...

E.g. 1 Write the following recurring decimals in dot notation.


(a) 43.888... (b) 0.676767...
(c) 9.463463463... (d) 0.7382382382...
·
Working: (a) 43.888... = 43.8

E.g. 2 Convert these recurring decimals from dot notation to normal decimals.
· ·· · · · ·
(a) 0.2 (b) 4.37 (c) 17.4618 (d) 0.9384615
·
Working: (a) 0.2 = 0.222...

Converting recurring decimals to fractions


A recurring decimal is truncated when entered into a calculator so if a recurring decimal is used in
a calculation it introduces a rounding error. To avoid this we can convert the recurring decimal to a
fraction.

To convert a recurring decimal to a fraction, two recurring decimals with the same recurring part
must be subtracted from one another.

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·
E.g. 3 Express 0.4 as a fraction.
·
Working: 0.4 = 0.444...
Let x = 0.444...
Multiply by 10: 10x = 4.444...
We now have two decimals with the same recurring part:
x = 0.444...
10x = 4.444...
When the rst equation is subtracted from the second, the recurring
part will disappear.
Subtracting: 10x − x = 4.444... − 0.444...
9x = 4
4
x=
9

·
E.g. 4 Express 0.7 as a fraction.

When there are two recurring digits, multiplying by 10 won’t be enough.


··
For example, let x = 0.93 = 0.939393....
Then 10x = 9.39393...
Comparing the recurring parts we see that they are not the same:
x = 0.939393...
10x = 9.39393...
··
E.g. 5 Express 0.93 as a fraction in its lowest terms.
··
Working: 0.93 = 0.939393...
Let x = 0.939393...
Multiply by 100: 100x = 93.939393...
Subtracting: 100x − x = 93.939393... − 0.939393...
99x = 93
93 31
x= =
99 33

E.g. 6 Express these recurring decimals as fractions in their lowest terms.


·· ·· · ·
(a) 0.16 (b) 0.72 (c) 0.458

What happens when there is a non-recurring digit after the decimal point.
· ·
For example, 0.85 = 0.8555... or 0.946 = 0.94666...
In such situation, we need to multiply by 10, 100 so that the recurring part is next to the decimal
point.

Page 2 of 3
fi
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·
E.g. 7 Express 0.85 as a fraction in its lowest terms.
·
Working: 0.85 = 0.8555...
Let x = 0.8555...
Multiply by 10 to get recurring part next to decimal point:
10x = 8.555...
Multiply x = 0.8555... by 100: 100x = 85.555...
Subtracting: 100x − 10x = 85.555... − 8.555...
90x = 77
77
x=
90
E.g. 8 Express these recurring decimals as fractions in their lowest terms.
· · ··
(a) 0.32 (b) 0.946 = 0.94666... (c) 0.495

Video: Recurring decimals to fractions

Solutions to Starter and E.g.s

Exercise
9-1 class textbook: p10 E1.1 Qu 1-2
A*-G class textbook: p10 E1.1 Qu 1-2
9-1 homework book: p4 E1.1 Qu 1-3
A*-G homework book: p3 E1.1 Qu 1-3

Summary
Dot notation is used to make the writing of recurring decimals quicker.
Two dots can be used to show that more than one digit is being repeated.
When the two dots are separated, the digits in between the dots are also repeated.

Converting recurring decimals to fractions:


To convert a recurring decimal to a fraction, two recurring decimals with the same recurring part
must be subtracted from one another.
When there is a non-recurring digit after the decimal point, multiply by 10, 100 so that the
recurring part is next to the decimal point.

Page 3 of 3

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