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Version 5 |
| A rational number $d$ is called a \emph{decimal fraction} if $10^kd$ is an integer for some non-negative integer $k$. For example, any integer, as well as rationals such as |
A rational number $d$ is called a \emph{decimal fraction} if $10^kd$ is an integer for some non-negative integer $k$. For example, any integer, as well as rationals such as |
| $$0.23123,\qquad \frac{3}{4},\qquad \frac{236}{125}$$ |
$$0.23123,\qquad \frac{3}{4},\qquad \frac{236}{125}$$ |
| are all decimal fractions. Rational numbers such as $$\frac{1}{3},\qquad -\frac{227}{12}, \qquad 2.\overline{312}$$ are not. |
are all decimal fractions. Rational numbers such as $$\frac{1}{3},\qquad -\frac{227}{12}, \qquad 2.\overline{312}$$ are not. |
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| There are two other ways of characterizing a decimal fraction: for a rational number $d$, |
There are two other ways of characterizing a decimal fraction: for a rational number $d$, |
| \begin{enumerate} |
\begin{enumerate} |
| \item $d$ is as in the above definition; |
\item $d$ is as in the above definition; |
| \item $d$ can be written as a fraction $\displaystyle{\frac{p}{q}}$, where $p$ and $q$ are integers, and $q=2^m5^n$ for some non-negative integers $m$ and $n$; |
\item $d$ can be written as a fraction $\displaystyle{\frac{p}{q}}$, where $p$ and $q$ are integers, and $q=2^m5^n$ for some non-negative integers $m$ and $n$; |
| \item $d$ has a terminating decimal expansion, meaning that it has a decimal representation $$a.d_1d_2\cdots d_n000\cdots$$ |
\item $d$ has a terminating decimal expansion. |
| where $a$ is an integer and $d_i$ is any one of the digits $0,\ldots,9$. |
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| \end{enumerate} |
\end{enumerate} |
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| A decimal fraction is sometimes called a \emph{decimal number}, although a decimal number in the most general sense may have non-terminating decimal expansions. |
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| \textbf{Remarks}. Let $D\subset \mathbb{Q}$ be the set of all decimal fractions. |
\textbf{Remarks}. Let $D\subset \mathbb{Q}$ be the set of all decimal fractions. |
| \begin{itemize} |
\begin{itemize} |
| \item |
\item |
| If $a,b \in D$, then $a\cdot b$ and $a+b\in D$ as well. Also, $-a \in D$ whenever $a\in D$. In other words, $D$ is a subring of $\mathbb{Q}$. Furthermore, as an abelian group, $D$ is $2$-divisible and $5$-divisible. However, unlike $\mathbb{Q}$, $D$ is not \PMlinkname{divisible}{DivisibleGroup}. |
If $a,b \in D$, then $a\cdot b$ and $a+b\in D$ as well. Also, $-a \in D$ whenever $a\in D$. In other words, $D$ is a subring of $\mathbb{Q}$. Furthermore, as an abelian group, $D$ is $2$-divisible and $5$-divisible. However, unlike $\mathbb{Q}$, $D$ is not \PMlinkname{divisible}{DivisibleGroup}. |
| \item |
\item |
| As inherited from $\mathbb{Q}$, $D$ has a total order structure. It is easy to see that $D$ is \PMlinkname{dense}{DenseTotalOrder}: for any $a,b\in D$ with $a< b$, there is $c\in D$ such that $a<c<b$. Simply take $c=\displaystyle{\frac{a+b}{2}}$. |
As inherited from $\mathbb{Q}$, $D$ has a total order structure. It is easy to see that $D$ is \PMlinkname{dense}{DenseTotalOrder}: for any $a,b\in D$ with $a< b$, there is $c\in D$ such that $a<c<b$. Simply take $c=\displaystyle{\frac{a+b}{2}}$. |
| \item |
\item |
| From a topological point of view, $D$, as a subset of $\mathbb{R}$, is dense in $\mathbb{R}$. This is essentially the fact that every real number has a decimal expansion, so that every real number can be ``approximated'' by a decimal fraction to any degree of accuracy. |
From a topological point of view, $D$, as a subset of $\mathbb{R}$, is dense in $\mathbb{R}$. This is essentially the fact that every real number has a decimal expansion, so that every real number can be ``approximated'' by a decimal fraction to any degree of accuracy. |
| \item |
\item |
| We can associate each decimal fraction $d$ with the least non-negative integer $k(d)$ such that $10^{k(d)}d$ is an integer. This integer is uniquely determined by $d$. In fact, $k(d)$ is the last decimal place where its corresponding digit is non-zero in its decimal representation. For example, $k(1.41243)=5$ and $k(7/25)=2$. It is not hard to see that if we write $d=\displaystyle{\frac{p}{2^m5^n}}$, where $p$ and $2^m5^n$ are coprime, then $k(d)=\max(m,n)$. |
We can associate each decimal fraction $d$ with the least non-negative integer $k(d)$ such that $10^{k(d)}d$ is an integer. This integer is uniquely determined by $d$. In fact, $k(d)$ is the last decimal place where its corresponding digit is non-zero in its decimal representation. For example, $k(1.41243)=5$ and $k(7/25)=2$. It is not hard to see that if we write $d=\displaystyle{\frac{p}{2^m5^n}}$, where $p$ and $2^m5^n$ are coprime, then $k(d)=\max(m,n)$. |
| \item |
\item |
| For each non-negative integer $i$, let $D(i)$ be the set of all $d\in D$ such that $k(d)=i$. Then $D$ can be partitioned into sets $$D=D(0)\cup D(1) \cup \cdots \cup D(n) \cup \cdots.$$ Note that $D(0)=\mathbb{Z}$. Another basic property is that if $a\in D(i)$ and $b\in D(j)$ with $i<j$, then $a+b\in D(j)$. |
For each non-negative integer $i$, let $D(i)$ be the set of all $d\in D$ such that $k(d)=i$. Then $D$ can be partitioned into sets $$D=D(0)\cup D(1) \cup \cdots \cup D(n) \cup \cdots.$$ Note that $D(0)=\mathbb{Z}$. Another basic property is that if $a\in D(i)$ and $b\in D(j)$ with $i<j$, then $a+b\in D(j)$. |
| \end{itemize} |
\end{itemize} |
