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# A terminating decimal is defined as a decimal that has a

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A terminating decimal is defined as a decimal that has a [#permalink]  22 May 2010, 13:35
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A terminating decimal is defined as a decimal that has a finite number of nonzero digits. Examples of terminating decimals are 0.24, 52, and 6.0314. x and y are positive integers. If x/y is expressed as a decimal, is it a terminating decimal?

(1) 40 < x < 45

(2) y = 8
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
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Re: 700+ question [#permalink]  22 May 2010, 13:54
(1) Definitely isn't enough, because you can tweak the denominator any way you like to arrive at fraction that simplifies down to say, 2/3 (0.66666...)
(2) Is the same thing.

At first glance this question seems really too easy. You need to know what's going on with both x and y in order be able to answer it.

C) jumps out immediately. It's obvious that if you know even the ranges of both x and y you could test each combo out and eventually arrive at an answer so clearly taken together they are sufficient.

It's just a matter of seeing if A, B or D is feasible. I don't think they are for the reasons I gave above. If I only know either the nominator or denominator, I can find a match somewhere down the line that allows to make it so the simplified result ends up to be 2/3 (recurring decimal) or 1/1 (obviously a terminating one).

So: C
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Re: 700+ question [#permalink]  22 May 2010, 14:08
dalmba wrote:
(1) Definitely isn't enough, because you can tweak the denominator any way you like to arrive at fraction that simplifies down to say, 2/3 (0.66666...)
(2) Is the same thing.

At first glance this question seems really too easy. You need to know what's going on with both x and y in order be able to answer it.

C) jumps out immediately. It's obvious that if you know even the ranges of both x and y you could test each combo out and eventually arrive at an answer so clearly taken together they are sufficient.

It's just a matter of seeing if A, B or D is feasible. I don't think they are for the reasons I gave above. If I only know either the nominator or denominator, I can find a match somewhere down the line that allows to make it so the simplified result ends up to be 2/3 (recurring decimal) or 1/1 (obviously a terminating one).

So: C

OA is B

Statement (2): Any number divided by 8 results in a terminating decimal. This is because when a number is divided by 2, the only possible remainders are or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 (actually 1/8, 2/8, etc.). These remainders are expressed as .125, .25, .375, .5, .625, .75, and .875, respectively. Therefore x/y is a terminating decimal; SUFFICIENT.

I did not understand this...

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Re: 700+ question [#permalink]  22 May 2010, 14:33
Haha, this is why I'm bad at DS.

You're supposed to intuitively know that anything ever divided by 8 will result in a terminal decimal.

I messed up in assuming I had control over the denominator (when I said (2) is the same logic as why (1) doesn't work), when it clearly said it was 8 and nothing else.

It's funny, the last DS question I answered here I got right but made a big deal about feeling reluctant to toss out B. I was right to be feeling that way, but just not for the correct question. *sigh*
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Re: 700+ question [#permalink]  22 May 2010, 14:50
shekar123 wrote:
A terminating decimal is defined as a decimal that has a finite number of nonzero digits. Examples of terminating decimals are 0.24, 52, and 6.0314. x and y are positive integers. If x/y is expressed as a decimal, is it a terminating decimal?

(1) 40 < x < 45

(2) y = 8

B.

any positive integer number divided by 8 gives terminate decimal equal to 5.
1) is very alluring, cause we read 1) and then 2), having in mind "I dont know x, so I cant find out what is the decimal point, thus I need to know the range of numbers for X"
Thus c is wrong.
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Re: 700+ question [#permalink]  22 May 2010, 15:46
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Theory:
Reduced fraction $$\frac{a}{b}$$ (meaning that fraction is already reduced to its lowest term) can be expressed as terminating decimal if and only $$b$$ (denominator) is of the form $$2^n5^m$$, where $$m$$ and $$n$$ are non-negative integers. For example: $$\frac{7}{250}$$ is a terminating decimal $$0.028$$, as $$250$$ (denominator) equals to $$2*5^3$$. Fraction $$\frac{3}{30}$$ is also a terminating decimal, as $$\frac{3}{30}=\frac{1}{10}$$ and denominator $$10=2*5$$.

Note that if denominator already has only 2-s and/or 5-s then it doesn't matter whether the fraction is reduced or not.

For example $$\frac{x}{2^n5^m}$$, (where x, n and m are integers) will always be terminating decimal.

(We need reducing in case when we have the prime in denominator other then 2 or 5 to see whether it could be reduced. For example fraction $$\frac{6}{15}$$ has 3 as prime in denominator and we need to know if it can be reduced.)

In original question statement (2) says that denominator equals to 2^3=8, hence x/8 will be terminating decimal no matter what the value of x is.
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Re: 700+ question [#permalink]  22 May 2010, 16:05
Bunuel wrote:
For example $$\frac{x}{2^n5^m}$$, (where x, n and m are integers) will always be terminating decimal.

That is sweet. A nifty little tool that's not too horrible to remember.

Also, in order to preserve some sort of semblance of competency in this realm I will quite proudly point out that there was a typo in your post here:

Bunuel wrote:
as $$250$$ (denominator) equals to $$2*5^2$$.

As it should read - "$$250$$ (denominator) equals to $$2*5^3$$"
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Re: 600 + question [#permalink]  22 May 2010, 20:58
shekar123 wrote:
A terminating decimal is defined as a decimal that has a finite number of nonzero digits. Examples of terminating decimals are 0.24, 52, and 6.0314. x and y are positive integers. If x/y is expressed as a decimal, is it a terminating decimal?

(1) 40 < x < 45

(2) y = 8

1) we don't know anything about y, so Insufficient

2) when you divide anything by 8 the answer will be either an integer, a fraction of a multiple of 0.125. For example 201/8 = 25.125 and 203/8 = 25.375

So in any case, this will always lead to a terminating decimal. Sufficient

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Re: A terminating decimal is defined as a decimal that has a [#permalink]  24 Apr 2012, 03:20
Found this helpful explanation on Mgmat site.
Author- Emily Sledge

This rule took a while for me to internalize. It's tough to picture a decimal terminating when the denominator is so huge, such as DWG's example of 43/256. I found it helped me to think about the basic patterns:

1/2^1 = 0.5
1/2^2 = 0.25
1/2^3 = 0.125
1/2^4 = 0.0625
1/2^5 = 0.03125
1/2^6 = 0.015625
1/2^7 = 0.0078125

1/5^1 = 0.2
1/5^2 = 0.04
1/5^3 = 0.008
1/5^4 = 0.0016
1/5^5 = 0.00032
1/5^6 = 0.000064
1/5^7 = 0.0000128

Every one of these terminates, and the pattern indicates that would continue to be true for higher powers. The number of decimal places increases along with the powers of 2 or 5, but the number of decimal places will always be finite.

In contrast, any factors other than 2 or 5 in the denominator can quickly be shown to be non-terminating, even for the most basic case (exponent of 1). Higher powers would be even messier:
1/3 = 0.33333(3 repeating)
1/6 = 0.16666(6 repeating)
1/7 = 0.142857(142857 repeating)
1/9 = 0.11111(1 repeating)
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Re: A terminating decimal is defined as a decimal that has a [#permalink]  10 Oct 2013, 17:20
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Re: A terminating decimal is defined as a decimal that has a [#permalink]  26 Oct 2014, 17:38
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Re: A terminating decimal is defined as a decimal that has a   [#permalink] 26 Oct 2014, 17:38
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