WHICH FRACTIONS BECOME RECURRING DECIMALS?

1 1
= 0.5 (a terminating decimal) and = 0.3 (a recurring decimal)
2 3
Use the widget in this lesson, or your calculator, to explore which
denominators lead to recurring decimals.

TASK 1 Explore some terminating decimals

Use the widget or a calculator to convert these fractions to decimals.

3 79 17 18
= = = =
20 80 32 25

The factors of 20 are 1, 2, 4, 5, 10 and 20. Its prime factors are 2 and 5.

List the factors of the other three denominators above and then circle the prime factors for each.

80: __________________________________ 32: _________________________________

25: ________________________________

TASK 2 Explore some recurring decimals

Use the widget or a calculator to convert these fractions to decimals.

7 19 11 15
= = = =
12 30 14 22

The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12. Its prime factors are 2 and 3.

List the factors of the other three denominators above and then circle the prime factors for each.

30: __________________________________ 14: _________________________________

22: ________________________________

TASK 3 Drawing conclusions

What is the link between the denominator’s prime factors and whether the fraction will terminate or
repeat? Why? (Hint: Decimals are base 10.)

15 16
Why does terminate while repeats?
30 30

Test your conclusions by exploring other fractions using the widget.