How do you write 5/9 as a decimal?

2 Answers
Nov 4, 2016

5/9 = 0.bar5

Explanation:

The usual approach for writing fractions as decimals is to find an equivalent fraction with a denominator that is a power of 10.

However, this is not always possible if the denominator has a factor of 3, 7, 11, 13 and so on. In this case you simply have to divide the numerator by the denominator.

5/9 = 5 div 9

rarr 9|ul(5.0000000)
color(white)(xxxxx)0.555555......

5/9 = 0.bar5

Nov 4, 2016

5/9=0.555555..........

Explanation:

Let us first write 5 as 5.000000000..... and
divide by 9.

As 5 units are equal to 50 one-tenths, it goes 5 times and 5 one-tenths are left. These are equal to 50 one-hundredths and it goes 5 times and 5 one-hundredths are left. This way, it goes on as is seen below.

ul9|5.00000000000000.......|ul(0.5555....)
color(white)(xx)ul(45)
color(white)(xxx)50
color(white)(xxx)ul(45)
color(white)(xxxx)50
color(white)(xxxx)ul(45)
color(white)(xxxxx)50
color(white)(xxxxx)ul(45)
color(white)(xxxxxx)5

Hence 5/9=0.555555..........