Is there a rule to find out how often, every how many digits, does a rational fraction repeat? For example 1/41 repeats every 5 or so digits, while 1/47 doesn't repeat for some 46 digits. Since both denominators are prime numbers, why the difference? Any ideas? I have always wondered about this. Thanks.
+130516 Here's some info on this........https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repeating_decimal
Unfortunately, a lot of it is WAY above my head!!!!
I do know one thing though.......if the denominator can be factored in terms of 2 or 5 [ or both] exclusively, we will have a terminating decimal....otherwise, we will have a repeating decimal
Thus 1/2, 1/10. 1/250, 1/3125 terminate.....but 1/6, 1/19, 1/12 have repeating patterns
