8.
1- Fractions and recurring decimals
Students should be able to:
-Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and
vice versa.
- Order fractions
-Tell whether fractions will have recurring or
terminating decimal equivalents.
Terminating and Recurring Decimals
• A terminating decimal has a finite number of decimal places
Example: 0.125
• A recurring decimal contains a digit or group of digits that repeat forever
Example: 0.66666….
• We indicate a recurring decimal by putting a dot above the start and end
of the repeating sequence
• Example: 0.333333…. is written as
0.13751375… is written as
Terminating Decimals to Fractions
• To convert a terminating decimal to a fraction:
1. Write the decimal part as the numerator of the fraction
2. The denominator will be a multiple of 10, so 10, 100, 1000, etc
3. This comes from the number of decimal places in the decimal
Example: Convert 0.045 to a fraction
45 =
1000
Fractions to Recurring Decimals
• To convert from a fraction to a recurring decimal:
1. Divide the numerator by the denominator
2. Look for the start and end of the repeated sequence and write this with
dots above them
Example: Convert to a decimal
4 ÷ 15 = 0.266666…
=
How do you tell if a fraction is equal to a repeating decimal or to a fixed decimal?
[Link] the fraction to its simplest form
[Link] the prime factors of the denominator
[Link] there any prime factors other than 2 and 5?
[Link] the only factors are 2 and/or 5 and/or any powers of 2 or 5, the fraction will turn
into a terminating decimal.
[Link] example, ½, ¼, 7575 are all terminating decimals, 0.5, 0.25, 1.4.
[Link] any factors are any other prime number, or any power of any other prime
number, the fraction will turn into a repeating decimal.
[Link] example, 13,335,7799913,335,77999 all turn into repeating decimals,
0.3333…, 0.0857142857142857…, 0.077077077077…
