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What is two thirds of eight

1 Answer

3 votes
5 + 0.33333...

If you don't immediately recognize 0.33333.... as 1/3 (a very common fraction you should memorize), you can do the following.

x = 0.33333...

Multiply that by 10 to shift everything 1 place to the left:
10x = 3.33333...

Now subtract:
10x - x = 3.33333... - 0.33333...
9x = 3
x = 3/9
x = 1/3

Answer:
5 1/3

P.S. Here's a shortcut way to turn a repeating decimal into a fraction.

1) Take the repeated part and put it over an equivalent number of nines.

Example:
0.57575757... = 57/99

At that point, see if you can reduce the fraction:
= 19/33

Another example:
0.123123123... = 123/999
= 41/333

So in your example:
5.33333... = 5 + 0.33333...
= 5 + 3/9
= 5 1/3
User Corrie
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