Which of the following rational numbers have terminating decimal?

(i)16/225 (ii)5/18


(iii)2/21 (iv)7/250

Let x = p/q be a rational number, such that the prime factorization of q is of the form 2n 5m, where n, m are non-negative integers. Then x has a decimal expansion which terminates.


(i) Here q = 225


225 can be written as 32×52


Since it is in the form of 5m, it is a terminating decimal.


(ii) Here q = 18


18 can be written as 2 × 32


Since 3 is also there and it is not in the form of 2n5m, it is not a terminating decimal.


(iii) Here q = 21


21 can be written as 3 × 7


Since it is not in the form of 2n5m, it is not a terminating decimal.


(iv) Here q = 250


250 can be written as 2 × 53


Since it is in the form of 2n5m, it is a terminating decimal.

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