Converting a fraction into a decimal by hand calculation

King Shun LEUNG

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlespeer-review

Abstract

It is time-consuming to convert a fraction whose denominator has two or more digits into a decimal by hand calculation. In this article we present two efficient conversion methods due to A. C. Aitken. One method applies to fractions of the form x = 1/(k x 10ⁿ - 1) while the other applies to x = 1/(k x 10ⁿ + 1), where k is a single-digit number. Aitken’s methods outdo the traditional method as they involve only successive division by the single-digit number k. Copyright © 2012 Applied Probability Trust.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)34-37
JournalMathematical spectrum
Volume45
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2012

Citation

Leung, K. S. (2012). Converting a fraction into a decimal by hand calculation. Mathematical spectrum, 45(1), 34-37.

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