Math Problem Statement
Solution
To prove algebraically that (which is the repeating decimal 0.103103103...) can be written as , let's follow these steps:
Step 1: Represent the repeating decimal as a variable
Let .
Step 2: Eliminate the repeating part by multiplying by a power of 10
Since the repeating part has 3 digits (103), multiply by to shift the decimal point three places to the right:
Step 3: Subtract the original equation from this new equation
Subtract the original from this equation:
This simplifies to:
Step 4: Solve for
Now, solve for by dividing both sides by 999:
Step 5: Simplify the fraction
The next step is to simplify the fraction . To do this, we need to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 103 and 999 and divide both the numerator and the denominator by this GCD.
After simplifying:
Thus, can indeed be written as , as required.
Would you like further details or have any questions? Here are 5 related questions for deeper understanding:
- How do you find the GCD of two numbers?
- What are other methods to convert repeating decimals to fractions?
- Why does multiplying by effectively eliminate the repeating decimal?
- How can we verify the result by converting back to a decimal?
- Can you extend this method to decimals with different repeating lengths?
Tip: Simplifying fractions is crucial in algebra. Always check if the numerator and denominator share any common factors to reduce the fraction to its simplest form.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Algebra
Repeating Decimals
Fractions
Formulas
x = 0.103103103...
1000x - x = 103
Theorems
Conversion of repeating decimals to fractions
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 8-10