Last visit was: 26 Apr 2026, 12:11 It is currently 26 Apr 2026, 12:11
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 26 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,859
Own Kudos:
811,428
 [2]
Given Kudos: 105,897
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,859
Kudos: 811,428
 [2]
If x is a positive integer greater than 1, is 1/x a terminating decima 18 Mar 2023, 12:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

71% (01:09) correct 29% (01:27) wrong based on 77 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
If x is a positive integer greater than 1, is 1/x a terminating decimal?

(1) x has 3 as a factor
(2) x is a factor of 81
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
D
User avatar
Aks111
User avatar
Joined: 13 Mar 2017
Last visit: 24 Feb 2025
Posts: 144
Own Kudos:
285
Given Kudos: 96
Location: India
Schools: ISB '23 Rotman '24 Ross '24
WE:Information Technology (Consulting)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: ISB '23 Rotman '24 Ross '24
Posts: 144
Kudos: 285
If x is a positive integer greater than 1, is 1/x a terminating decima 19 Mar 2023, 09:43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
If x is a positive integer greater than 1, is 1/x a terminating decimal?

1/x will be a terminating decimal only if all factors of 'x' are multiples of 2 or 5 only.
If 'x' is multiple of any prime number other than '2' or '5' then 1/x will not be a terminating decimal.

(1) x has 3 as a factor
--> This statement is sufficient, as we have a definite answer='No, to the question 'Is 1/x a terminating decimal?'

(2) x is a factor of 81
--> This implies x = 1,3,9,27,81. But x is greater than 1. So we know that x is a multiple of prime number other than 2 or 5. Statement (2) is also sufficient.

Answer: D
User avatar
Kavya2024
User avatar
Joined: 11 Jan 2021
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 34
Own Kudos:
13
Given Kudos: 152
Location: India
Schools: Wharton  '26 (A)
GMAT Focus 1: 695 Q86 V85 DI83
GMAT Focus 2: 725 Q90 V87 DI81
GPA: 7.33
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Wharton  '26 (A)
GMAT Focus 2: 725 Q90 V87 DI81
Posts: 34
Kudos: 13
If x is a positive integer greater than 1, is 1/x a terminating decima 26 Mar 2023, 23:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
What if X is 9,27 then how will 1/x be terminating. X can also be 6 then it will be. Should'nt the answer be B?
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 26 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,859
Own Kudos:
811,428
Given Kudos: 105,897
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,859
Kudos: 811,428
If x is a positive integer greater than 1, is 1/x a terminating decima 27 Mar 2023, 00:28
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Kavya2024
If x is a positive integer greater than 1, is 1/x a terminating decimal?

(1) x has 3 as a factor
(2) x is a factor of 81

What if X is 9,27 then how will 1/x be terminating. X can also be 6 then it will be. Should'nt the answer be B?
Show more

A terminating decimal is a decimal number that ends or terminates after a finite number of digits, meaning there are no repeating digits or an infinite sequence of digits after the decimal point. For example, 0.75, 2.5, and 7.125 are all terminating decimals. A non-terminating decimal is a decimal number that does not end or terminate after a finite number of digits, meaning it goes on infinitely. For example, 0.6666... is a non-terminating decimal because the digit 6 repeats infinitely or decimal expansion of pi is 3.14159265358979323846... is non-terminating because it goes on infinitely.

A terminating decimal is obtained when a fraction, reduced to its lowest term, has no prime factors other than 2 and/or 5 in the denominator. In other words, if a fraction is simplified and has only the prime factors of 2 and/or 5 in the denominator, then the resulting decimal will terminate. For example, 1/4 and 7/20 are both fractions that have no prime factors other than 2 and/or 5 in the denominator, and so their decimal representations terminate (0.25 and 0.35, respectively).

Conversely, a non-terminating decimal is obtained when a fraction, reduced to its lowest term, has prime factors other than 2 and/or 5 in the denominator. In other words, if a fraction is simplified and has prime factors other than 2 and/or 5 in the denominator, then the resulting decimal will be non-terminating. For example, the fraction 1/3, when expressed as a decimal, is non-terminating and repeating (0.333...), because 3 is a prime factor that is not 2 or 5.

In summary, whether a decimal terminates or not depends on the prime factors of the denominator when the fraction is reduced to its lowest term. If the denominator has only prime factors of 2 and/or 5, then the decimal representation will terminate. Otherwise, it will be non-terminating.

Now, back to the original question. From each statement, it follows that the denominator x has prime factors other than 2 and/or 5. Since 1/x is already reduced to its lowest terms, its decimal representation won't terminate. For example, 1/9 is equal to 0.111..., 1/27 is equal to 0.333..., and 1/6 is equal to 0.166.... All three of these fractions have prime factors other than 2 and/or 5 in the denominator, which makes their decimal representation non-terminating.

Hope it helps.
User avatar
unraveled
User avatar
Joined: 07 Mar 2019
Last visit: 10 Apr 2025
Posts: 2,706
Own Kudos:
2,329
Given Kudos: 763
Location: India
WE:Sales (Energy)
Posts: 2,706
Kudos: 2,329
If x is a positive integer greater than 1, is 1/x a terminating decima 29 Jul 2024, 09:56
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
If x is a positive integer greater than 1, is 1/x a terminating decimal?

(1) x has 3 as a factor
A definite answer is available in the form of NO since dividing by 3 results in non terminating decimal.

SUFFICIENT.

(2) x is a factor of 81
Like Statement 1 in this one one of the factor is 3 which when divides x leads to similar result as above.

SUFFICIENT.

Answer D.
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
109859 posts
kingbucky
498 posts
Gmat860sanskar
212 posts