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psychomath
But it says the ratio j/k is expressed as a decimal, so how come j=3p ?
I thought answer is A since J has to be a non-multiple of 3 since if it is a multiple of 3, j/k cannot be expressed as a decimal. COrrect me if i am wrong!

Anser can't be A. Because just knowing that k=3, doesnt tell you much about the decimal. For instance if j and k do not have 3 as a common factor, it will not cancel out and you will not get a terminating decimal which you would if they do have 3 as a common factor.

Eg. j=1, k=3 : Decimal is 0.333333....
j=6, k=3 : Decimal is 2.0
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psychomath
But it says the ratio j/k is expressed as a decimal, so how come j=3p ?
I thought answer is A since J has to be a non-multiple of 3 since if it is a multiple of 3, j/k cannot be expressed as a decimal. COrrect me if i am wrong!

Can;t be true..
j can be a multiple of 3.
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Bunuel
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.)

Questions testing this concept:
700-question-94641.html?hilit=terminating%20decimal
is-r-s2-is-a-terminating-decimal-91360.html?hilit=terminating%20decimal
pl-explain-89566.html?hilit=terminating%20decimal
which-of-the-following-fractions-88937.html?hilit=terminating%20decimal

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
Any decimal that has only a finite number of nonzero digits is a terminating decimal. For example, 12, 0.13, and 4.068 are three terminating decimals. If j and k are positive integers and the ratio j/k is expressed as a decimal, is j/k a terminating decimal?

(1) \(k = 3\) --> now, if \(j=3p\) (j is a multiple of 3) then \(\frac{j}{k}=\frac{3p}{3}=p=integer=terminating \ decimal\) but if \(j\) is not a multiple of 3 then reduced fraction \(\frac{j}{k}=\frac{j}{3}\) won't be a terminating decimal, as denominator has primes other than 2 and/or 5. Not sufficient.

(2) \(j\) is an odd multiple of 3 --> \(j=3(2k+1)\), clearly insufficient as no info about the denominator \(k\).

(1)+(2) \(\frac{j}{k}=\frac{3(2k+1)}{3}=2k+1=integer=terminating \ decimal\). Sufficient.

Answer: C.

So I guess for this type of questions we can never asume that k>j unless it says so in the question stem. Am I right?
Cheers
J :)
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Bunuel
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.)

Questions testing this concept:
700-question-94641.html?hilit=terminating%20decimal
is-r-s2-is-a-terminating-decimal-91360.html?hilit=terminating%20decimal
pl-explain-89566.html?hilit=terminating%20decimal
which-of-the-following-fractions-88937.html?hilit=terminating%20decimal

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
Any decimal that has only a finite number of nonzero digits is a terminating decimal. For example, 12, 0.13, and 4.068 are three terminating decimals. If j and k are positive integers and the ratio j/k is expressed as a decimal, is j/k a terminating decimal?

(1) \(k = 3\) --> now, if \(j=3p\) (j is a multiple of 3) then \(\frac{j}{k}=\frac{3p}{3}=p=integer=terminating \ decimal\) but if \(j\) is not a multiple of 3 then reduced fraction \(\frac{j}{k}=\frac{j}{3}\) won't be a terminating decimal, as denominator has primes other than 2 and/or 5. Not sufficient.

(2) \(j\) is an odd multiple of 3 --> \(j=3(2k+1)\), clearly insufficient as no info about the denominator \(k\).

(1)+(2) \(\frac{j}{k}=\frac{3(2k+1)}{3}=2k+1=integer=terminating \ decimal\). Sufficient.

Answer: C.

So I guess for this type of questions we can never asume that k>j unless it says so in the question stem. Am I right?
Cheers
J :)

Yes, nothing in the stem indicates that k must be greater than j.
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This is a GMAT Hacks question of the day. The question reappeared on May 8, 2013. Here is the official explanation in case anyone was interested.

Answer: C Statement (1) is insufficient. If the denominator of the fraction is 3, the decimal would be terminating if the numerator is a multiple of 3. For instance, 6/3 = 2, a terminating decimal. However, if the numerator is not a multiple of 3, it will not be terminating, as in 7/3 = 2.33.

Statement (2) is also insufficient. The important factor in determining whether a fraction is equivalent to a terminating decimal is the denominator. If j = 9, the fraction could be 9/3 (terminating) or 9/7 (not terminating).

Taken together, the statements are sufficient. j/k is equal to (3(integer))/3 = integer. An integer is, as defined in the question itself, a terminating decimal. Choice (C) is correct.

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rxs0005
Any decimal that has only a finite number of nonzero digits is a terminating decimal. For example, 12, 0.13, and 4.068 are three terminating decimals. If j and k are positive integers and the ratio j/k is expressed as a decimal, is j/k a terminating decimal?

(1) k = 3

(2) j is an odd multiple of 3.

We need to determine whether j/k is a terminating decimal given that j and k are positive integers. One thing we should keep in mind is that a fraction (in lowest terms and with a denominator greater than 1) can be expressed as a terminating decimal if and only if the denominator comprises prime factors of only 2 and/or 5. For example, 3/10 and 3/15 = 1/5 are terminating decimals, whereas 3/7 and 3/9 = 1/3 are not. On the other hand, if the denominator is 1, the fraction is always a terminating decimal as long as the numerator is an integer.

Statement One Alone:

k = 3

Depending on the value of j, j/k may or may not be a terminating decimal. For example, if j = 1, then j/k = 1/3 is not a terminating decimal. On the other hand, if j = 3, then j/k = 3/3 = 1/1 = 1 is a terminating decimal. Statement one is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statement Two Alone:

j is an odd multiple of 3.

Depending on the value of k, j/k may or may not be a terminating decimal. For example, if j = 3 and k = 7, then j/k = 3/7 is not a terminating decimal. On the other hand, if j = 3, and k = 3, then j/k = 3/3 = 1/1 = 1 is a terminating decimal. Statement two is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statements One and Two Together:

Since j is an odd multiple of 3, and k = 3, j/k is always an odd integer. Thus, j/k is a terminating decimal.

Answer: C
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On similar lines, found this question on Wizako https://practice-questions.wizako.com/g ... y-10.shtml
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Hoozan
On similar lines, found this question on Wizako https://practice-questions.wizako.com/g ... y-10.shtml

Thank you.

That question is discussed here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-x-y-a-ter ... 40010.html

Hope it helps.
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Any decimal that has only a finite number of nonzero digits is a terminating decimal. For example, 12, 0.13, and 4.068 are three terminating decimals. If j and k are positive integers and the ratio j/k is expressed as a decimal, is j/k a terminating decimal?

(1) k = 3

(2) j is an odd multiple of 3.



(1)

j/k = j/3. j can be 3 to be terminating, or 5 to be infinite. Insufficient

(2)

j is odd multiple > 3,9,15....
Insufficient


(1) and (2)

3/3 , 9/3 ... termining C is the answer.
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interesting question that represents a potential gap in knowledge - we cant just look at the denominator and see if it includes 2s and 5s and make decisions immediately

we also need to look at whether it is simplified unless it is already only 2s and 5s (if denominator already has only 2s and/or 5s then it doesn't matter whether the fraction is reduced or not)

this is to avoid situations where factors of the denominator can be cancelled with the numerators; for instance, fractions 3/30 and 6/15 (which have 3 as a factor in denominator) can be reduced further down to 1/10 and 2/5 which do have denominators consisted only 2s and 5s

in this case, only knowing that k=3 (denominator) is insufficient bc j could be multiples of 3 or not and could make j/k either a terminating decimal or not, which is a range of solution

in other words, if it is multiples of 3, like 6, then we have integers (e.g., 6/3 = 2), which are terminating decimals; if it is not multiples of 3, then we have non-terminating decimals (e.g., 7/3) bc 3 cannot be reduced to multiples of 2^m * 5^n.

thus, we need both conditions (1) and (2) thus (C).

rxs0005
Any decimal that has only a finite number of nonzero digits is a terminating decimal. For example, 12, 0.13, and 4.068 are three terminating decimals. If j and k are positive integers and the ratio j/k is expressed as a decimal, is j/k a terminating decimal?

(1) k = 3

(2) j is an odd multiple of 3.
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