Converting recurring decimal to a fraction

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In summary, the conversation is about finding a fraction equivalent to the recurring decimal 3.741 (41 is recurring). The suggested approach is to assign the number to a variable and manipulate it in order to eliminate the repeating decimal part. Another method suggested is using the geometric series formula or algebraically converting the decimal into a fraction.
  • #1
Mathysics
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3.741 (41 is recurring)

answer is 1852/495

but ii don't know how to work it out

thanks :)
 
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  • #2
Mathysics said:
3.741 (41 is recurring)

answer is 1852/495

but ii don't know how to work it out

thanks :)

3.74141414141... = 3.7 + 1.0101010101010... * 0.041

Can you figure out a fraction for 1.01010101010?

If so, you can proceed from there.
 
  • #3
You could also try assigning the number to a variable, for example

n = 3.741414141...

If we multiply both sides of the above equation by 10, we have

10n = 37.41414141...

Try multiplying the original equation by another number, so that it might be possible to get rid of the repeating decimal part of the number by performing some arithmetic operation on two of the equations...
 
  • #4
Use the geometric series formula or, if you don't know what that is, do it algebraically as so:

To convert 0.52222... into a fraction

let x=0.52222... (1)
10x=5.22222... (2)
(2) - (1)
9x = 5.2222...-0.5222 = 4.7
Therefore x = 4.7/9 = 47/90

Try apply this idea to your question.
 

What is a recurring decimal?

A recurring decimal is a decimal number that has a repeating pattern of digits after the decimal point. For example, 0.3333... is a recurring decimal with the digit 3 repeating infinitely.

What is the process of converting a recurring decimal to a fraction?

To convert a recurring decimal to a fraction, you need to identify the repeating pattern and use a mathematical formula to express it as a fraction. The formula is (r / 9) where r is the repeating pattern. For example, 0.3333... can be expressed as (3 / 9), which simplifies to (1 / 3).

What if the recurring pattern is more than one digit?

If the recurring pattern is more than one digit, you need to adjust the formula slightly. For example, for the recurring decimal 0.142857142857..., the repeating pattern is 142857. The formula to convert this to a fraction would be (r / 999999) where r is the repeating pattern. In this case, the fraction would simplify to (1 / 7).

Can any recurring decimal be converted to a fraction?

Yes, any recurring decimal can be converted to a fraction using the formula mentioned above. However, some fractions may not simplify to whole numbers, and in those cases, the decimal representation would be more convenient to use.

Is there a shortcut for converting recurring decimals to fractions?

Yes, you can use the shortcut method of placing the repeating pattern over the appropriate number of 9s in the denominator. For example, for the recurring decimal 0.3333..., you can write the fraction as (3 / 9) or simply (3/9). This method works for any recurring decimal with a single-digit repeating pattern.

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