Convert the following repeating decimal to a fraction in simplest form.

., start overline, 2, 0, end overline
.
20

1 answer

Let \( x = 0.20202020\ldots \), where the digits "20" repeat indefinitely.

To eliminate the repeating part, we can multiply \( x \) by \( 100 \) (since the repeating part consists of two digits):

\[ 100x = 20.20202020\ldots \]

Now, we have two equations:

  1. \( x = 0.20202020\ldots \)
  2. \( 100x = 20.20202020\ldots \)

Next, we can subtract the first equation from the second:

\[ 100x - x = 20.20202020\ldots - 0.20202020\ldots \]

This simplifies to:

\[ 99x = 20 \]

Now, solve for \( x \):

\[ x = \frac{20}{99} \]

We need to check if \( \frac{20}{99} \) is in simplest form. The greatest common divisor (GCD) of 20 and 99 is 1, since 20 (which factors to \( 2^2 \times 5 \)) and 99 (which factors to \( 3^2 \times 11 \)) share no common factors.

Thus, \( \frac{20}{99} \) is already in simplest form.

The final answer is:

\[ \boxed{\frac{20}{99}} \]

Similar Questions
  1. Convert the following repeating decimal to a fraction in simplest form.point, 6, start overline, 3, end overline .6 3 3 a
    1. answers icon 1 answer
    1. answers icon 1 answer
    1. answers icon 1 answer
    1. answers icon 1 answer
more similar questions