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Glite Dictionary
repeating decimal

repeating decimal

4.2
A decimal number with a group of digits that goes on forever after the decimal point
  • noun
  • /rɪˈpiːtɪŋ ˈdɛsɪməl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : decimal periódico
  • In mathematics, a common example of a repeating decimal is 0.666..., where '6' repeats indefinitely.

Examples

  • The fraction 1/3 converts to the repeating decimal 0.333..., which means the digit '3' goes on forever.

  • Note that there are two numbers at the end of the answers below, given by the numerical divisions above, that seem to stand out for the reason that they are the numbers which stop the repeating decimals.

    Blog text (15)

  • When you divide 1 by 7, the result is a repeating decimal of 0.142857..., demonstrating how some decimals never terminate.

Synonyms

recurring decimal
vsrepeating decimal
  • UK
6.5

A number with digits after the point that repeat forever

is the same concept but phrases it as happening after a certain point
circulating decimal
vsrepeating decimal
  • Specialized
7.9

A decimal number with a group of digits that repeats forever

is framed as occurrence after a specific point rather than as a fraction

Surface Forms

repeating decimal singular
repeating decimals plural

Morphology

repeating + decimal

The meaning is directly compositional: 'repeating' (occurring again and again) modifies 'decimal' (a number with a decimal point), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a decimal whose digits repeat. This construction is transparent and has clear equivalents in other languages, making the intended meaning predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Repeating decimal comes from the simple picture after the decimal point where a group of digits keeps repeating over and over, like 0.272727.... That's why the term means a decimal where one or more digits 'repeat' forever.