How to convert a recurring decimal into fraction

Fristly we need to define recurring decimal as a rational number that does not terminate.

Example 1, 0.444444444...

Example 2, 0.123123123...

A fraction is a number in which the numerator is divided by the denominator. In terminating decimals, the number of decimal places determines if the denominator would be 10, 100 or 1000 for fractions of tenths, hundredths and thousandths respectively.

Recurring decimals are patterned and can be simplified with algebra.

Using Example 1, only 1 digit is repeated

Let x = 0.4444444444...

  10x = 4.4444444444...

Then 10x - x = 4.4444444444... - 0.4444444444...

9x = 4

x = 4/9

Example 2

Let x = 0.123123123...

  10x = 1.231231231...

*which complicates things, we are looking to eliminate all decimal points when we subtract x from this

100x = 12.312312312...

*this does not help either, 3 digits are repeated so we try

 1000x = 123.123123123...

-       x =      0.123123123...

So we have 999x = 123

Therefore x = 123/999

BL
Answered by Bernice L. Maths tutor

26221 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Jay, Shelia & Harry share £7200 in the ratio 1:2:5. How much does Harry receive?


There are n sweets in a bag. 6 of the sweets are orange. The rest of the sweets are yellow. Hannah takes a random sweet from the bag. She eats the sweet. Hannah then takes at random another sweet from the bag. She eats the sweet. The probability that H


Expand and simplify (x − 4)(2x + 3y)^2


Show that the lines A: y= 2x-5. and the line B: 2y-4x+3=0 are parallel.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning