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CHAPTER

3 Decimals

Animation 1.1: Introduction to Decimals

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Student Learning Outcomes

3.1 Conversion of Decimals to Rational
After studying this unit, students will be able to:
Numbers
• Convert decimals to rational numbers.
We take the following steps to convert decimals to rational
• Define terminating decimals as decimals having a finite number
numbers.
of digits after the decimal point.
Step 1: Write “1” below the decimal point.
• Define recurring decimals as non-terminating decimals in which a
Step 2: Add as many zeros as the digits after the decimal point.
single digit or a block of digits repeats itself an infinite number of
Step 3: Reduce the rational number to the lowest form.
times after decimals point (e.g. = 0.285714285714285714....)
• Use the following rule to find whether a given rational number is
Example 1: Convert 0.12 to a Example 2: Convert 2.55 to a
terminating or not.
rational number. rational number.
• Rule: If the denominator of a rational number in standard form
has no prime factor other than 2, 5 or 2 and 5, then and only then Solution: Solution:
the rational number is a terminating decimal.
• Express a given rational number as a decimal and indicate whether
it is terminating or recurring.
• Get an approximate value of a number, called rounding off, to a
desired number of decimal places.

Introduction
In the previous classes, we have learnt that a decimal consists of Example 3: Convert -1.375 to a rational number.
two parts, i.e. a whole number part and a decimal part. To separate
these parts in a number, we place a dot between them which is Solution:
known as the decimal point.
Do you Know
Decimal point

The word “decimal” has been

deduced from a latin word
“decimus” which means the tenth.

Whole number part Decimal part

So, we can define a decimal; a number with a decimal point is called

a decimal.
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EXERCISE 3.1 Example 1: Express each rational number as a decimal.

1. Convert the following decimals into rational numbers.

(i) 0.36 (ii) 0.75 (iii) –0.125
(iv) –6.08 (v) 6.46 (vi) 15.25 Solution:
(vii) 8.125 (viii) –0.00625 (ix) –0.268

3.2 Terminating and Non-Terminating

Decimals

Decimals can be classified into two classes.

(i) Terminating Decimals (ii) Non-terminating Decimals

3.2.1 Terminating Decimals

Look at the conversion of rational numbers into
decimals.

In the above example, we observe that after a finite number 3.2.2 Non-Terminating Decimals
of steps, we obtain a zero as remainder. Such rational numbers, for
which long division terminates after a finite number of steps, can In some cases while converting a rational number into
be expressed in decimal form with finite decimal places and these a decimal, division never ends. Such decimals are called non-
decimals are called terminating decimals which can be defined as; termination decimals as shown in the following examples.
“A decimal in which the number of digits after the decimal point is
finite, is called a terminating decimal.”
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3.2.3 Rule to find whether a given rational is

So, we can define a non-terminating decimal as; terminating or not
“A decimal in which the number of digits after the decimal point are
infinite, is called a non-terminating decimal”. We have learnt that the division process terminates for some
From the above examples, it can also be observed that a single digit rational numbers and does not terminate for certain other rational
or a block of digits repeats itself an infinite number of times after the numbers.
decimal point in such decimals. i.e. • Terminating Decimals
• In 0.3333..., the digit 3 repeats itself an infinite number for times.
• In 0.2727..., the block of digits 27 repeats itself an infinite number
of times. • Non-terminating Decimals
• In 0.1666..., the digit 6 repeats itself an infinite number of times.
The non-termination decimals in which a single digit or a block of
digits repeats itself infinite number of times after the decimal point From the above examples, it can be observed that a rational number
are also called recurring decimals. can be expressed as a terminating decimal if its denominator has
only prime factors 2 and 5, otherwise it is a non-terminating decimal.
Example 2: Change the rational numbers into non-terminating
So, we can use the following rule to find whether the given rational
decimals.
number is terminating or not.

Solution:
Rule: If the denominator of a rational number in standard form has
no prime factor other than 2, 5 or 2 and 5, then and only then the
rational number is a terminating decimal.

Example 3: Without actual division, separate terminating and

non-terminating decimals.
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Solution:

Solution:

9
(i)
7
9
is a non-terminating decimal because its denominator is 7.
7
17
(ii)
8
17
is a terminating decimal because its denominator has prime
8
factors 2 x 2 x 2 = 8

20
(iii)
6
20 20 ÷ 2 10
Write in the standard form of the given rational number.
= =
6 6÷2 3
20
is a non-terminating decimal because the denominator of its
6
standard form is 3.

45
(iv)
25 3.3 Approximate Values
45 45 ÷ 5 9
The standard form of= = .
25 25 ÷ 5 5 Whenever we come across the non-terminating decimals, it
45 is very difficult to solve the problems without the help of a calculator.
is a terminating decimal because the denominator of its standard
25 Even calculators also have limitations. Therefore, in order to solve
form is 5. such kinds of problems, we round off the decimals.
• Round off
3.2.4 Expressing a Rational Number as a Decimal to
Here the term round off is used to leave the digits after the decimal
indicate whether it is Terminating or Recurring
point. The following are the steps to round off a decimal.
Example 4: Express the rational numbers as decimals. Also Step 1: Decide how many digits we need after the decimal point.
separate terminating and recurring decimals. Step 2: Drop the remaining digits off, if the The symbol “c“
first most digit we want to leave is less than means “approximately
5. And if it is 5 or more, then add 1 to the equal to”.
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required last digit before dropping the remaining digits. 2. Express the following rational numbers in terminating decimals.
It will be easier for us to understand this method with some examples
which are given below.

Example 4: Round off the following decimals up to:

(a) 3-decimal places
(b) 2-decimal places 3. Express the following rational numbers in non-terminating
(i) 2.3427 (ii) 4.7451 (iii) 1.5349 decimals up to three decimal places.

Solution: (i) 2.3427

(a) The digit next to 3-decimal places is 7 (greater than 5). So, we
increase the digit 2 by one. i.e. 2.3427 c 2.343
(b) The digit next to 2-decimal places is 2 (less than 5). So, we ignore 4. Round off the following decimals up to three decimal places.
the remaining digits without any change. i.e. 2.3427 c 2.34
(ii) 4.7451
(a) The digit next to 3-decimal places is 1 (less than 5). So, we
ignore the remaining digits without any change. i.e. Review Exercise 3
4.7451 c 4.745
(b) The digit next to 2-decimal places is 5 (equal to 5). So, we 1. Answer the following questions.
increase the digit 4 by one. i.e. 4.7451 c 4.75 (i) Define the terminating decimals.
(iii) 1.5349 (ii) Write the names of two classes of decimals.
(a) The digit next to 3-decimal places is 9 (greater than 5). So, we (iii) Which of the non-terminating decimals are called
increase the digit 4 by one. i.e. 1.5349 c 1.535 recurring decimal?
(b) The digit next to 2-decimal places is 4 (less than 5). So, we (iv) How many digits after a decimal point show a non-
ignore the remaining digits without any change. i.e. terminating decimal?
1.5349 c 1.53 (v) Write the rule to find whether a given rational number is
terminating or not.
EXERCISE 3.2 (vi) What is meant by the term round off in decimals?

1. Without actual division, separate the terminating and 2. Fill in the blanks.
non-terminating decimals. (i) A ________ decimal may be recurring or non-recurring.
(ii) Two parts of decimal number separated by a dot is called
the ________ .
(iii) In terminating decimals, division ________ after a finite
number of steps.
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(iv) In decimals, the term round off is used to leave the digits
after the ________ .
(v) A fraction will be terminating if the ________ has 2 or 5 or
both as factors.

3. Tick (p) the correct answer.

4. Convert the following decimals into rational numbers.

(i) 0.375 (ii) 0.25 (iii) 0.5 (iv) 4.75
(v) 0.79 (vi) 1.29 (vii) 2.34

5. Convert the following into decimal fractions and identify

terminating and non-terminating fractions.

4 11 8 1
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
5 12 9 7
22 21 3
(v) (vi) (vii)
7 6 10
6. Round off the following up to 2-decimal places.
(i) 4.5723 (ii) 107.328 (iii) 5.7395
(iv) 6.7982 (v) 25.4893

Summary

• Every decimal with finite digits after the decimal point is called a
terminating decimal.
• A terminating decimal represents a rational number.
• A decimal with infinite digits after a decimal point is called a
non-terminating decimal.
• A non terminating decimal may be recurring or non-recurring.
• Decimals can be reduced by rounding off the digits after the
decimal point.
• A fraction will be terminating if the denominator in standard form
has 2 or 5 or both as factors.
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