Question #48afa

1 Answer
Dec 2, 2017

The fraction of the repeating 2.bar(31)2.¯¯¯¯31 decimal is 229/9922999.

Explanation:

Step 1 :

Let xx be equal to the repeating decimal you are trying to convert to a fraction. Here, xx is 2.312.31 or

x = 2.31313131...

as an equation.

Step 2:

Examine the repeating decimal to find the repeating digit(s). The repeating digits here are 31.

Step 3:

Place the repeating digit(s) to the left of the decimal point. Move the repeating digits [31] to the left of the decimal point by multiplying 100 (to move both digits to the left) to both sides of the equation in step 1. Thus,

100x=231.313131...

Step 4:

Place the repeating digit(s) to the right of the decimal point. Look at the equation in step 1 again. In this example, the repeating digit is already to the right, so there is nothing else to do.

x = 2.31313131

Step 5:

Your two equations are:

100x=231.313131

x = 2.31313131

Subtract the left sides of the two equations.

100x - x= 99x

Then, subtract the right sides of the two equations

231.313131-2.31313131=228.99999969

As you subtract, just make sure that the difference is positive for both sides

=> 99x=228.99999969

Then round both sides up to whole numbers. In this case, 99 is already a whole number so only 228 needs to be rounded to 229 because the digit after it is 9 (Because 9 is greater or equal to 5, the unit digit 8 of 228 needs to plus itself by 1).

=> 99x=229

Step 6:

Now, you can find the fraction x of the repeating decimal 2.31 by dividing 99 to both sides of the equations

99x =229

=> x=229/99