Terminating F*ing decimals...

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by cubicle_bound_misfit » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:49 am
Try to factorize denominator and see which one does not give 3 or 9 or 7 or 11 etc as a factor. That one will always terminate.
Hope that helps.
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by jnellaz » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:16 am
Don't sweat it. The rule is very easy:

1. Factor out the denominator of the fraction and list all the prime factors.
2. If the denominator contains a prime factor other than 2 or 5 then the resulting fraction will be non-terminating.

E.g.

34/512

512 = 2^9 Thus this fraction is terminating

50/75

75 = 5 * 5 * 3 Thus this fraction is non-terminating

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by niraj_a » Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:35 pm
correcto

only a denom with 2 and/or 5 as a prime factor will terminate

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Missing important step

by GMATters1001 » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:30 am
FIRST, MAKE SURE THE FRACTION IS SIMPLIFIED!! If not, you may be left with a 3 as a factor in both the numerator and denominator that would have otherwise cancelled through simplification.

Once simplified, if the denominator has ANYTHING OTHER THAN A 2 OR A 5 as a factor, the fraction will NOT terminate.

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by jnellaz » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:45 am
Great catch GMATters1001. Thanks for the clarification!