1.

4/33

Converting a Recurring Decimal to a Fraction

2. 133/999
3. 1/9
4.314/999
5. 5/7

Recurring decimals can be written as fractions.

Example 1
Convert 0.142857142857... into a fraction.

Solution
Let x = 0.142857142857...

We want to move the decimal point to the right, so that the first "block" of repeated
digits appears before the decimal point. Remember that multiplying by 10 moves the
decimal point 1 position to the right.

So in this example, we need to move the decimal point 6 places to the right (so we
multiply both sides by 1 000 000):
1000000x = 142857.142857142857...
Now we can subtract our original number, x, from both sides to get rid of everything
after the decimal point on the right:
1000000x - x = 142857
So 999999x = 142857
142857 1
x= =
999999 7

Example 2
Convert 0.123 123 123 ... into a fraction.

Solution
Let x = 0.123 123 123 ...
1000x = 123.123 123 123 ...

Subtract x from both sides:

1000x –x = 123.123 123 123 ... – x

999 x = 123

123 41
Hence x = =
999 333

Now try these  1/9 = 0.111111111111...

Convert the following into fractions:  1/7 = 0.142857142857...
1. 0.12 12 12 12 ...  1/3 = 0.333333333333...
2. 0.133 133 133 133 ...  1/81 = 0.0123456790...
3. 0.111111111...
 2/3 = 0.666666666666...
4. 0.314 314 314 ...
5. 0.714285 7142857 ...  7/12 = 0.58333333333...