3.04 Recurring decimals to fractions

If we were given $\frac{7}{9}$79​ and asked to express it as a decimal, we could enter it into our calculator and get $0.777777777$0.777777777. Our calculator eventually runs out of space, because it is a recurring decimal  $0.\overline{7}$0.7 (or ) and that the sevens in $0.777777777$0.777777777... go on forever.

Now, what if we were given the recurring decimal $0.0\overline{12}=0.012121212$0.012=0.012121212... and asked to convert it into a fraction? We could type $0.012121212$0.012121212 into our calculator and press the button to convert it into a fraction, but most calculators won't do it, and even if they do, it will give you the fraction for the terminating decimal $0.012121212$0.012121212, NOT for the recurring decimal $0.0\overline{12}$0.012.

Fortunately, we can use what we've learnt about basic algebra to convert any recurring decimal to a fraction. To do this, we use a little trick to get rid of the endless recurring part of the decimal.

The recurring part cancels out! This makes sense, since $0.444444444...-0.444444444...$0.444444444...−0.444444444...  equals nothing.

This fact will come in handy when we are converting recurring decimals to fractions.

Let's learn out conversion method using the decimal $0.0\overline{12}$0.012.

STEP 1: Introduce $x$x

Let $x$x equal the recurring decimal you are trying to convert.

$x=0.0\overline{12}$x=0.012

STEP 2: Find the repeating digits

Look for the repeating digits in the recurring decimal. In $0.012121212$0.012121212... , they are '$12$12'.

STEP 3: Shift the repeating digits to the left

Shift one lot of the repeating digits to the left of the decimal place. Remember that multiplying by $10$10, $100$100, $1000$1000, etc. will shift the digits left across the decimal place by $1$1 place, $2$2 places, $3$3 places, etc.

Therefore, $1000\times0.012121212$1000×0.012121212...$=$=$12.1212121$12.1212121... and so we have a new equation for $x$x.

$1000x=12.1212121$1000x=12.1212121...

STEP 4: Go back and make sure the repeating digits start on the right

Check your original equation $x=0.012121212$x=0.012121212... . Do the repeating digits start on the right? In this case, they don't, so we'll have to make a new equation where they do.

$10x=0.12121212$10x=0.12121212...

STEP 5: Subtract the equations from one another and solve for x

We have our two equations $1000x=12.1212121$1000x=12.1212121... and $10x=0.12121212$10x=0.12121212... .

We subtract the corresponding sides of the equations like so.

$1000x-10x$1000x−10x	$=$=	$12.\overline{12}-0.\overline{12}$12.12−0.12
$990x$990x	$=$=	$12$12
$x$x	$=$=	$\frac{12}{990}$12990​
$x$x	$=$=	$\frac{2}{165}$2165​

And so our recurring decimal $0.0\overline{12}$0.012 is in fact the fraction $\frac{2}{165}$2165​.

If you follow the method above, you can convert any recurring decimal into a fraction!

Practice questions

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Note: The interactive questions will use the line notation, while the worksheet for this topic will use both the dot and line notation.