Recurring decimals

Tier: #Higher

🔗What you need to know first
How to

A recurring decimal is a decimal where a digit or group of digits repeats indefinitely. It is written using dot notation: $0.\dot{3} = 0.333\ldots$ and $0.\dot{1}\dot{4} = 0.141414\ldots$

Converting a recurring decimal to a fraction:

Let $x = 0.\dot{3}$ $10x = 3.\dot{3}$ Subtract: $9x = 3$, so $x = \frac{3}{9} = \frac{1}{3}$

For a longer repeat, e.g. $x = 0.\dot{1}\dot{4}$: $100x = 14.\dot{1}\dot{4}$ $99x = 14$, so $x = \frac{14}{99}$

The key is to multiply by a power of 10 that aligns the repeating block, then subtract to eliminate it.

All recurring decimals are rational numbers — they can be written as fractions.

Common error: multiplying by the wrong power of 10 — you need to shift exactly one full cycle of the repeating block.

Questions to practise

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📝Past paper questions
💬What the examiners say
  • "The big point of note from candidates is to use the correct notation for recurring decimals. This could be in the form of repeating all the recurring digits at least twice or the correct dots above the recurring digits. Those who failed to use such notation scored at most 2 marks."
  • "Most successfully chose to find 10x and 1000x and subtract; full marks required showing the recurring nature of the decimal throughout the working, not treating it as a terminating decimal."
⬆️How you can quickly improve
  • Identify how many digits repeat and where they start, then multiply by the right power of 10 to shift the decimal so the repeating block lines up exactly.
  • Write the subtraction of the two equations in columns, checking each digit position carefully before simplifying.
  • Always mark the recurring part with dots above the repeating digits or '...' to show the pattern continues.
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