Meaning & use
terminating decimal
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Meaning
nouncountablemathematics
A decimal number that has a finite number of digits after the decimal point and does not continue forever.
Grammar: Countable: a terminating decimal, terminating decimals.
Patterns
- a terminating decimal
- terminating decimals
- write something as a terminating decimal
0.25 is a terminating decimal because it stops after two digits.
The fraction 1/8 can be written as the terminating decimal 0.125.
Not every fraction is a terminating decimal; 1/3 is a repeating decimal.
Word forms
| plural | terminating decimals |
|---|
Common combinations
- a terminating decimal
- 0.75 is a terminating decimal.
- write as a terminating decimal
- Write 3/4 as a terminating decimal.
- repeating decimal
- 0.333... is a repeating decimal, not a terminating decimal.
Synonyms and how they differ
- finite decimal
- A less common term with the same meaning.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: terminating decimal or repeating decimal?
terminating decimal vs repeating decimal
A repeating decimal has digits that go on forever in a repeating pattern, like 0.333...; a terminating decimal stops.
Practice
Which of these is a terminating decimal?
Choose one answer.
0.5 stops after one digit, so it is terminating. The others continue forever with a repeating pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “terminating decimal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.