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Pearson Edexcel 4MA1 IGCSE  ·  Topic G6.1  ·  Higher tier

G6.1 Recurring Decimals to Fractions

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01 — Explanation

What does the dot notation actually mean?

A recurring decimal repeats one or more digits forever. A dot over a single digit marks it as the repeating one, e.g. 0.3˙=0.3333…0.\dot{3} = 0.3333\dots. For a repeating block of two or more digits, dots go over the first and last digit of the block only — 0.5˙4˙=0.545454…0.\dot{5}\dot{4} = 0.545454\dots and 0.76˙3˙=0.7636363…0.7\dot{6}\dot{3} = 0.7636363\dots (the 77 doesn't repeat; the block 6363 does).

Exam Tip: Never put a dot over every digit in the block — only the first and last. 0.1˙23˙0.\dot{1}2\dot{3} means 0.123123123…0.123123123\dots, not 0.12˙30.1\dot{2}3.

02 — Explanation

How do I convert a simple recurring decimal (repeats straight after the point)?

Let xx equal the decimal, then multiply by 10n10^n where nn is the number of repeating digits, so the decimal part lines up exactly. Subtracting cancels the infinite tail.

Convert 0.2˙7˙0.\dot{2}\dot{7}: Let x=0.272727…x = 0.272727\dots. The block has 2 digits, so multiply by 100100: 100x=27.272727…100x = 27.272727\dots. Subtract: 100x−x=27⇒99x=27⇒x=2799=311100x - x = 27 \Rightarrow 99x = 27 \Rightarrow x = \frac{27}{99} = \frac{3}{11}.

03 — Explanation

How do I convert a mixed recurring decimal (non-repeating digits first)?

This is where most marks are lost — picking the wrong pair of multipliers. The reliable rule: multiply once to put the decimal point just before the repeating block, and again to put it just after the first full block. Subtracting those two equations always cancels perfectly.

Convert 0.47˙0.4\dot{7}: Let x=0.4777…x = 0.4777\dots. Multiply to sit before the block: 10x=4.777…10x = 4.777\dots. Multiply to sit after one full block: 100x=47.777…100x = 47.777\dots. Subtract: 100x−10x=43⇒90x=43⇒x=4390100x - 10x = 43 \Rightarrow 90x = 43 \Rightarrow x = \frac{43}{90}.

Exam Tip: "Prove algebraically that…" demands this full method shown — the nines-and-zeros shortcut (denominator = one 9 per repeating digit, one 0 per non-repeating digit) is fine for checking your answer but scores zero marks if written as the method.

04 — Explanation

What if the decimal is bigger than 1?

Nothing changes — you'll just end up with an improper fraction. 7.32˙=7.3222…7.3\dot{2} = 7.3222\dots: 10x=73.222…10x=73.222\dots, 100x=732.222…100x=732.222\dots, so 90x=65990x = 659, giving x=65990=72990x = \frac{659}{90} = 7\frac{29}{90}.

05 — Explanation

How do I add, multiply or divide two recurring decimals?

You can't do arithmetic directly on the dots — convert each one to a fraction first, then operate. For 0.3˙9˙÷0.6˙3˙0.\dot{3}\dot{9} \div 0.\dot{6}\dot{3}: these convert to 1333\frac{13}{33} and 711\frac{7}{11}, so the division is 1333×117=143231=1321\frac{13}{33} \times \frac{11}{7} = \frac{143}{231} = \frac{13}{21}.

06 — Worked example

Worked exam-style question (Grade 8–9)

xx is a digit, 1≤x≤91 \le x \le 9. Prove algebraically that 0.0˙x˙=x990.\dot{0}\dot{x} = \dfrac{x}{99}.

  1. Let y=0.0˙x˙=0.0x0x0x…y = 0.\dot{0}\dot{x} = 0.0x0x0x\dots — the repeating block is "0x0x" (2 digits).
  2. Multiply by 102=10010^2=100 to shift one full block: 100y=0x.0x0x⋯=x.0˙x˙100y = 0x.0x0x\dots = x.\dot{0}\dot{x} (since "0x0x" as a 2-digit lead is just the value xx).
  3. Subtract the original: 100y−y=x⇒99y=x100y - y = x \Rightarrow 99y = x.
  4. So y=x99y = \dfrac{x}{99}, as required.

This question type — an algebraic unknown inside the recurring decimal — is a classic Grade 9 differentiator: you treat xx exactly like a specific digit and follow the same subtraction method.