Question
upstudy study bank question image url

Without dividing, determine which of the following represent terminating decimals.
a.
b.
A. No, because the only factors of the denominator, 24 , are 2 and 5 .
B. No, the denominator of the simplified fraction contains a factor other than 2 or 5 .
C. Yes, because the only factors of the denominator, 24 , are 2 and 5 .
D. Yes, the only factors of the denominator of the simplified fraction are 2 or 5 .
b. Is a terminating decimal?
A. Yes, the only factors of the denominator of the simplified fraction are 2 or 5 .
B. No, because the only factors of the denominator, 28 , are 2 and 5 .
C. Yes, because the only factors of the denominator, 28 , are 2 and 5 .

Ask by Ball Murphy. in the United States
Mar 22,2025

Upstudy AI Solution

Tutor-Verified Answer

Answer

is not a terminating decimal because its simplified denominator has a factor of 3. is a terminating decimal because its simplified denominator is .

Solution

Step 1: Determine the condition for terminating decimals
A fraction in lowest terms represents a terminating decimal if and only if the prime factorization of contains only 's and/or 's.

Step 2: Analyze
  1. Simplify the fraction:
  2. Factorize the denominator:
  3. Conclusion:
    Since the denominator contains (a prime other than or ), the fraction does not represent a terminating decimal.
    Correct Answer for (a):
    B. No, the denominator of the simplified fraction contains a factor other than or .

Step 3: Analyze
  1. Simplify the fraction:
  2. Factorize the denominator:
  3. Conclusion:
    The denominator is composed solely of the prime , hence the fraction represents a terminating decimal.
    Correct Answer for (b):
    A. Yes, the only factors of the denominator of the simplified fraction are or .

Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor

error msg
Explain
Simplify this solution

Extra Insights

To determine if a fraction represents a terminating decimal, we look at its denominator after simplification. A fraction will have a terminating decimal if the only prime factors of its denominator are 2 and/or 5.
For , when simplified, both 20 and 24 share the common factor of 4, simplifying to . The denominator, 6 (which factors into ), contains a factor other than 2 or 5, indicating that it is not a terminating decimal.
For , simplifying gives us . The denominator here, 4 (which factors into ), consists solely of the prime factor 2, so this fraction does represent a terminating decimal.
In summary, does not represent a terminating decimal, while does.
Now, let’s dig deeper into these fascinating concepts!
An interesting tidbit is that terminating decimals have a close relationship with powers of 10! Since our decimal system is base 10, any fraction that can be expressed in the form (where is an integer and is a nonnegative integer) will yield a terminating decimal. So, identifying fractions with denominators made up of only 2’s and 5’s clears the path to creating that happy decimal!
When it comes to problem-solving, one common mistake is failing to fully simplify the fraction! Before you check the denominator’s prime factors, make sure you’ve simplified the fraction completely. It’s essential because a fraction that seems to have a denominator with only 2’s and 5’s at first glance may contain other factors in its unsimplified form—leading you down the wrong path towards identifying whether it’s terminating!

Try Premium now!
Try Premium and ask Thoth AI unlimited math questions now!
Maybe later Go Premium
Study can be a real struggle
Why not UpStudy it?
Select your plan below
Premium

You can enjoy

Start now
  • Step-by-step explanations
  • 24/7 expert live tutors
  • Unlimited number of questions
  • No interruptions
  • Full access to Answer and Solution
  • Full Access to PDF Chat, UpStudy Chat, Browsing Chat
Basic

Totally free but limited

  • Limited Solution
Welcome to UpStudy!
Please sign in to continue the Thoth AI Chat journey
Continue with Email
Or continue with
By clicking “Sign in”, you agree to our Terms of Use & Privacy Policy