Period of a Rational Number
When writing a rational number in decimal notation, a group of digits that repeats in the decimal part of the number.
Symbol
In the decimal notation of a rational number, the notation of the period p consists of drawing a line over the sequence of numbers that repeats. In the decimal notation of the rational number [latex]\dfrac {22} {7}[/latex] = 3.142 857 142 857 14 ..., the period is 142 857. [latex]\dfrac {22} {7} = 3.\overline {142\space857}[/latex] and we write: p = 142 857.Examples
- [latex]\dfrac{5}{3}[/latex] = 1.666 666 666 ... = 1.[latex]\overline {6}[/latex] and we write: p = 6.
- If the rational number is one decimal number, the period is 0. [latex]\dfrac{7}{5}[/latex] = 1.4 and we write: p = 0.