The ration r/s is expressed as a decimal. Is r/s, a terminating decima

Question

The ration r/s is expressed as a decimal. Is r/s, a terminating decimal?

(1) s = 2^3
(2) r > 0

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

vitaliyGMAT  First of all, we can consider an integer as a terminating decimal.
 ganand , the answer is still E, because we are not told that r is an integer. Consider r = 1/3.

vitaliyGMAT · Answer

(1) Although we have  2^a  in our denominator our fraction can be either a termination decimal or an integer, if s is a factor of r.

Ex.  \frac{1}{8}  or  \frac{16}{8} . Insufficient.

(2) Clearly insufficient.

(1) & (2) Again our fraction can be either a terminatig decimal: ex.  \frac{9}{8}  or an integer  \frac{16}{8} . Insufficient.

Answer E.

ganand · Answer

Hi vitaliyGMAT, Consider the following OG question (DS 148, OG 13th Edition) Any decimal that has only a finite number of nonzero digits is a terminating decimal. For example, 24, 0.82, and 5.096 are three terminating decimals. any-decimal-that-has-only-a-finite-number-of-nonzero-digits-144328.html I think the answer should be (A). Thanks.

ganand · Answer

Thank you Bunuel, I got the point.

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Hi Siddharthasinha123,

Answer should be E.

You will end up chosing answer as “A” (1 alone sufficient) if “r”considered as an integer.

So here what’s the theory is,

A fraction in its simplified form, have only 2’s or 5’s(or both) in the denominator, then it’s a terminating fraction.

Statement I is insufficient:

We don’t know whether “r” is an integer,

If r = 1/7 or 1/3, then r/s is not a terminating decimal.

If r = 2, then r/s is a terminating decimal.

Statement II is insufficient:

Nothing about “s”, that is nothing about denominator.

So not sufficient,

Together I and II also, we don’t have anything to say whether “r” is an integer.

So together also not sufficient,

So the answer is E.

k9527511797 · Answer

You all are stuck up in trap of question,

Actuall answer is C combination of Statment 1 and 2.

Although first Statment should have been sufficient... As per banuel explanation but we cannot assume that r and s are positive integers hence Statment one is insufficient.

Statment 2 is insufficient as only.

But from 1 and 2

R is positive integer and hence r/2^3 is terminating decimal.

Hence answer is C
Please change official answer to C

Posted from my mobile device

k9527511797 · Answer

You all are stuck up in trap of question,

Actuall answer is C combination of Statment 1 and 2.

Although first Statment should have been sufficient... As per banuel explanation but we cannot assume that r and s are positive integers hence Statment one is insufficient.

Statment 2 is insufficient as only.

But from 1 and 2

R is positive integer and hence r/2^3 is terminating decimal.

Hence answer is C
Please change official answer to C

Posted from my mobile device

jindal2910 · Answer

the question says ratio so, it cant be simplified further. r needs to be an integer here. Please correct me if i am wrong.

in my views, answer should be A.

VeritasPrepErika · Answer

Statement 2 does NOT say that r is an integer. Statement 2 only tells us that r is positive. So r may be a positive integer, a positive terminating decimal, a positive non-terminating decimal, etc.

The integer assumption trap is extremely common in DS, and you fell for it here. Be sure to watch out for it, as it is often the difference between sufficient and insufficient.

deepak.brijendra · Answer

16/8=2.0 is indeed a terminating decimal...

bumpbot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot: 

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

 This post was generated automatically.

The ration r/s is expressed as a decimal. Is r/s, a terminating decima

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Data Sufficiency (DS) Questions

The ration r/s is expressed as a decimal. Is r/s, a terminating decima

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards