Using long division, write the rational number 7/16 as a terminating decimal?

1 Answer
Nov 6, 2016

7/16=0.4375

Explanation:

Let us first write 7 as 7.000000000..... and
divide by 16.

As 7 units are equal to 70 one-tenths, 16 goes 4 times and 6 one-tenths are left. These are equal to 60 one-hundredths and it goes 3 times and 12 one-hundredths are left. This way, we can go on, till we get zero and we get terminating decimal or numbers start repeating and we get repeating numbers.

ul16|7.0000000|ul(0.4375)
color(white)(xx)ul(64)
color(white)(xxx)60
color(white)(xxx)ul(48)
color(white)(xxx)120
color(white)(xxx)ul(112)
color(white)(xxxX)80
color(white)(xxxx)ul(80)
color(white)(xxxx)X

Hence 7/16=0.4375