Envision Math 2.0: Grade 8, Volume 1
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1. Rational Numbers as Decimals
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Exercise 4 Page 10

Assign a variable to represent the repeating decimal. Then, write an equation by setting the variable and the decimal equal to each other.

7/11

Practice makes perfect

We are told that according to a survey, 63.63 % of moviegoers prefer action films. This percent shows a repeating decimal. We want to write the given repeating decimal as a fraction. To do so, we will follow five steps.

  1. Assign a variable to represent the repeating decimal.
  2. Write an equation by setting the variable and the decimal equal to each other.
  3. Multiply both sides of the equation by 10^d, where d is the number of repeating digits in the repeating decimal.
  4. Subtract equivalent expressions of the variable and the repeating decimal from each side of the equation.
  5. Solve for the variable. If necessary, write an equivalent fraction so that the numerator and denominator are integers.

Let's do it!

Steps 1 and 2

We will use the variable x to represent the given repeating decimal number. We can write an equation by setting this variable equal to 63.63 %. Then we will write the percent as a repeating number.

x=63.63 % ⇒ x&=0.6363 x&=0.63

Step 3

The given number has two repeating digits, so we will multiply both sides of the equation by 10^2.
x=0.63
x* 10^2=0.63* 10^2
x* 100=0.63* 100
100x=63.63

Step 4

We will now subtract x from both sides of the equation. Since x=0.63, we will substitute 0.63 for x on the right-hand side.
100x=63.63
100x-x=63.63-x
100x-x=63.63 - 0.63
99x=63

Step 5

Finally, we will solve the obtained equation for x.
99x=63
99x/99=63/99
99x/99=63/99
x=63/99
x=7/11
We found that x is equal to 711. Remember that x is also equal to 63.63 %. By the Transitive Property of Equality, we can conclude that the fraction is equal to the given repeating decimal number. x= 63.63 % x= 7/11 ⇒ 63.63 %= 7/11