6th Grade Math Textbook, Fundamentals

Remember:

The fraction bar indicates division.

4.0 is the same as 4. You can

write zeros to the right of the

decimal point without changing

the value.

 &KDSWHU

4-2

Update your skills. See pages 412 XII, 413 XIV.

Equivalent Rational Numbers

Objective To write rational numbers in equivalent forms

Until the 21st century, stock prices were recorded as fractions.

Today, those prices are shown as decimals. For example, a

gain of $2.25 per share used to be recorded as 2. Today, this

is recorded as 2.25. How can a loss of per share be recorded

as a decimal?

You can express a rational number in fractional form

as a decimal by dividing.

5

8

1

4

4  5 Write zeros as needed.

 40

0 The remainder is 0.

So 0.8, which is a terminating decimal.

5

08

40

.

.

4

5

4

5

1

1  3 The digits in the quotient repeat.

 9

10

 9

10

 9

1

So 0.333... 0.3330.3, which is a

repeating decimal.

Each division has the same

repeating remainder.

1

3

3

0 333

1 000

.

(^13) .
2
Key Concept
Terminating and Repeating
Decimals
When you divide the numerator
of a fraction by its denominator
and the division ends, or
terminates, because the
remainder is zero, the decimal
is a terminating decimal.
When the digits in the quotient
repeat because the remainder
repeats, the decimal is a
repeating decimal.

Now write a loss of per share as a decimal.

 Represents the loss of per share.

Divide. Write zeros as needed.

0.625 terminating decimal

So the loss of per share can be recorded as

the decimal 0.625.

5

8

5

8

5

8

8

0625

5 000^524





.

.

5

8

5

8 Negative fractional numbers can be written

in any of these three equivalent forms:

 

You can rewrite  as.

So ^5885 .

 5

8

5

8

5

 8

 5

8

5

8