Terminating and Recurring Decimals Investigation This PowerPoint presentation is designed to be used to introduce students to this investigation. Only show the minimum number of slides necessary to get the students thinking for themselves… John Tranter March 2003

Fractions to decimals: Most people know that the fraction ½ can be represented as the decimal 0.5 Many people also know that one third is the same as …… ?

Fractions to decimals: Most people know that the fraction ½ can be represented as the decimal 0.5 Many people also know that one third is the same as 0.33333333333333….

Vocabulary 0.5 is a terminating decimal 0.333333333333333………… is a recurring decimal Learn the words in red

Investigation Which fractions convert to terminating decimals? Which fractions convert to recurring decimals? The next slide provides some starting points (if you need them!)

Organise your work: Convert fractions to decimals in order: One Half One Third One Quarter One Fifth …. etc

Fraction Families: Consider fractions with the same denominator: One over Eleven Two over Eleven Three over Eleven Four over Eleven etc What do you notice?

Try using a Spreadsheet

Organise your results What are the things you have found out about the decimal equivalent of fractions? Did you discover any patterns in the recurring decimals? Did you find any rules for predicting the nature of the decimals?

Present your results Present all you have found in a form that others will understand Make your findings interesting You may wish to use PowerPoint and report back to the whole class.

Most people like decimals but others don’t see the point! Good Luck Most people like decimals but others don’t see the point!