How do I work out how a number is written in fraction form, if it is a reoccurring decimal?


If I have a reocurring decimal I use a special trick to work it out as a fraction. The trick is to try and cancel out the reocurring bit by multiplying by 10 several times and then using subtraction.
E.g. 7.999999... where 9 is reocurring.First define x as the decimal we are interested in. x=7.999..Next we would multiply x by 10 to get 10x=79.99999...We do this because we know that subtracting x from 10x would cancel out the reocurring bit to give 9x=79-7=72.If 9x=72, then dividing everything by 9 gives x=72/9.

JD
Answered by Jasmin D. Maths tutor

3267 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

3 postitive whole numbers have a mean of 6. What is the greatest possible range of the numbers?


Solve 6x^2-13x=5


If a bag contains 6 green balls and 3 red balls, what the probability of picking out 2 red, with and without replacement.


Solve the equation (2x + 3 / x - 4) - (2x - 8 / 2x + 1) = 1


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