Does the decimal equivalent of p/q, where p and q are positive integers, contain only a finite number of nonzero digits?

Question

Manuel Jackson

Mathematics

20 May, 11:52

Does the decimal equivalent of p/q, where p and q are positive integers, contain only a finite number of nonzero digits?

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Pamela Lowery · Answer 1

A/B is a reduced fraction which can be represented as a terminating decimal if and only b is of the form 2^n5^n where m and n are non negative integers. For example: 7/250, the terminating decimal here is 0.028 as 250 as the denominator equals to 2*5^2.

According to the above, we must know whether the denominator have only 2-s and or 5-s as the prime factors. So,

Q = 8 = 2 ^3 = hence the denominator has only 2 prime factors. Fraction P/Q will be termed as terminated decimal which is sufficient.