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.