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How to Convert a Repeating Decimal into a Fraction

1. Use a letter 𝑥 to represent the decimal 0.47474747 …

𝑥 = 0.4747474747 … (𝐿𝑒𝑡 ′ 𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1)

2. Multiply both sides of the equation by 100, because the decimal has 2 repeating digits. When
multiplying the right side by 100, move the decimal point two places to the right.

100(𝑥) = 100(0.4747474747 … )

100𝑥 = 47.4747474747 … (𝐿𝑒𝑡 ′ 𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2)

3. Subtract equation 1 from equation 2.

100𝑥 = 47.4747474747 …
𝑥 = 0.4747474747 …

99𝑥 = 47

4. Solve the equation for 𝑥.

99𝑥 47
=
99 99

47
𝑥=
99

So, we converted the repeating decimal into a fraction.

47
0.47474747474747 … =
99
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Example 2
Convert the decimal 0.222222 … into a fraction.

1. Use a letter 𝑥 to represent the decimal 0.222222 …

𝑥 = 0.222222 … (𝐿𝑒𝑡 ′ 𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1)

2. Multiply both sides of the equation by 10, because the decimal has 1 repeating digit. When
multiplying the right side by 10, move the decimal point one place to the right.

10(𝑥) = 10(0.222222 … )

10𝑥 = 2.22222 … (𝐿𝑒𝑡 ′ 𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2)

3. Subtract equation 1 from equation 2.

10𝑥 = 2.22222 …
𝑥 = 0.222222 …

9𝑥 = 2

4. Solve the equation for 𝑥.

9𝑥 2
=
9 9

2
𝑥=
9

So, we converted the repeating decimal into a fraction.

2
0.222222 … =
9
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Example 3
Convert the decimal 0.285714285714 … into a fraction.

1. Use a letter 𝑥 to represent the decimal 0.285714285714 …

𝑥 = 0.285714285714 … (𝐿𝑒𝑡 ′ 𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1)

2. Multiply both sides of the equation by 1,000,000, because the decimal has 6 repeating digits. When
multiplying the right side by 1,000,000, move the decimal point six places to the right.

1,000,000(𝑥) = 1,000,000(0.285714285714 … )

1,000,000𝑥 = 285,714.285714 … (𝐿𝑒𝑡 ′ 𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2)

3. Subtract equation 1 from equation 2.

1,000,000𝑥 = 285,714.285714 …
𝑥 = 0.285714285714 …

999,999𝑥 = 285,714

4. Solve the equation for 𝑥.

999,999𝑥 285,714
=
999,999 999,999

285,714
𝑥=
999,999

Reduce the fraction.

285,714 ÷ 142,857 2
𝑥= =
999,999 ÷ 142,857 7

So, we converted the repeating decimal into a fraction.

2
0.285714285714 … =
7
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Example 4
Convert the decimal 0.45454545 … into a fraction.

1. Use a letter 𝑥 to represent the decimal 0.4545454545 …

𝑥 = 0.4545454545 … (𝐿𝑒𝑡 ′ 𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1)

2. Multiply both sides of the equation by 100, because the decimal has 2 repeating digits. When
multiplying the right side by 100, move the decimal point two places to the right.

100(𝑥) = 100(0.45454545 … )

100𝑥 = 45.4545454545 … (𝐿𝑒𝑡 ′ 𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2)

3. Subtract equation 1 from equation 2.

100𝑥 = 45.4545454545 …
𝑥 = 0.4545454545 …

99𝑥 = 45

4. Solve the equation for 𝑥.

99𝑥 45
=
99 99

45
𝑥=
99

Reduce the fraction.

45 ÷ 9 5
𝑥= =
99 ÷ 9 11

So, we converted the repeating decimal into a fraction.

5
0.4545454545 … =
11