SOLUTION: I do not understand why -9/19 is a rational number since it works out to -0.47368421052.... could you please explain. I thought rational numbers must end or repeat.

Algebra ->  Rational-functions -> SOLUTION: I do not understand why -9/19 is a rational number since it works out to -0.47368421052.... could you please explain. I thought rational numbers must end or repeat.       Log On


   

Question 638594: I do not understand why -9/19 is a rational number since it works out to -0.47368421052.... could you please explain. I thought rational numbers must end or repeat.
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I do not understand why -9/19 is a rational number since it works out to -0.47368421052.... could you please explain. I thought rational numbers must end or repeat.
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Your denominator is 19. So there are at most 19 different remainders
when you divide -9 by 19. So that decimal form you posted must start
repeating in no more than 20 digit places.
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-9/19 IS rational because it is a ratio of two integers and the
denominator is not zero.
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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