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Mathematics

A rational number in its lowest form has denominator 23 × 5. How many decimal places will its decimal expansion have? Explain your answer.

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Answer

Given:

Denominator (in lowest form) = 23 × 5.

Since the denominator has only 2's and 5's as prime factors, the decimal expansion is terminating.

The number of decimal places in the terminating decimal expansion of p2m×5n\dfrac{p}{2^m \times 5^n} (in lowest form) is the maximum of m and n.

Here, m = 3 (power of 2) and n = 1 (power of 5).

⇒ Number of decimal places = max(3, 1) = 3.

To verify, multiply numerator and denominator by 52 to make denominator a power of 10 :

p23×5=p×5223×5×52=25p23×53=25p1000.\Rightarrow \dfrac{p}{2^3 \times 5} = \dfrac{p \times 5^2}{2^3 \times 5 \times 5^2} = \dfrac{25p}{2^3 \times 5^3} = \dfrac{25p}{1000}.

Dividing by 1000 gives a decimal with 3 decimal places.

Hence, the decimal expansion will have 3 decimal places.

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