SOLUTION: For how many values of n where n≤100 is 1/n represented by a terminating decimal?

Algebra ->  Decimal-numbers -> SOLUTION: For how many values of n where n≤100 is 1/n represented by a terminating decimal?      Log On


   



Question 326015: For how many values of n where n≤100 is 1/n represented by a terminating decimal?
Found 2 solutions by Edwin McCravy, Fombitz:
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
For how many values of n where n≤100 is 1/n represented by a terminating decimal?

1%2Fn will be a terminating decimal if and only if 
its only prime factors are 2 and 5 (the prime factors of 10)

all the powers of 2 under 100 are

2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64

That's the first set of numbers

all the powers of 5 under 100 are

5, 25

1 over any of those will be a terminating decimal.

But that's not all,

1 over any product of those will also be a terminating decimal.

Now we get all the products of one of the first set
times one of the numbers in the second set.

the only products of those are

2*5=10, 4*5=20, 8*5=40, 16*5=80, (32x5 is over 100 so we stop)

2*25=50, 4*25=100, (8*25 is over 100 so we stop)

So the only cases are

 1. 1%2F2=.5
 2. 1%2F4=.25
 3. 1%2F8=.125
 4. 1%2F16=.0625
 5. 1%2F32=.03125
 6. 1%2F64=.015625
 7. 1%2F5=.2
 8. 1%2F25=.04 
 9. 1%2F10=.1
10. 1%2F20=.05
11. 1%2F40=.025
12. 1%2F80=.0125
13. 1%2F50=.02
14. 1%2F100=.01

So there are 14.

Edwin



Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Fifteen times (1,2,4,5,8,10,16,20,25,32,40,50,64,80,100)