The term "terminating decimal" refers to a decimal number that has a finite number of digits after the decimal point. Its spelling can be broken down phonetically as tɜr-mə-neyt-ɪŋ dɛs-əl. The emphasized syllable is "neyt" and the first "e" is reduced to a schwa sound. The "g" in "ing" is silent. The word "decimal" is pronounced with stress on the second syllable, "dɛs-əl." Overall, the spelling of "terminating decimal" reflects its pronunciation and follows English orthographic conventions.
A terminating decimal is a decimal number that has a finite number of digits after the decimal point and does not repeat indefinitely. In other words, it is a decimal representation of a rational number that ends or terminates after a certain number of decimal places.
To identify if a decimal is terminating, one can check if the digits after the decimal point eventually stop or if there is a pattern that repeats continuously. If neither of these conditions is met, the decimal is classified as a non-terminating decimal.
For example, the decimal representation of one-fourth, 0.25, is a terminating decimal since it has only two digits after the decimal point and does not repeat. Similarly, the decimal representation of three-tenths, 0.3, is also a terminating decimal as it ends after one digit.
Terminating decimals can be easily converted into fractions by expressing the decimal part as a fraction over powers of ten. For instance, 0.625 can be written as 625/1000, which simplifies to 5/8.
It is important to note that not all rational numbers have terminating decimals. For instance, the decimal representation of one-third, 0.333..., is a non-terminating decimal since it repeats the digit 3 infinitely.
The term "terminating decimal" comes from the combination of two words: "terminating" and "decimal".
1. "Terminating": It derives from the Latin word "terminare", meaning "to set boundaries" or "to limit". In the context of decimals, "terminating" signifies that the decimal has a definite end or limit, and it does not continue infinitely without repetition.
2. "Decimal": The word "decimal" is derived from the Latin word "decimus", which means "tenth". Decimals are a numerical representation of fractions or numbers that fall into the base-10 number system, which is used widely in mathematics.
Therefore, the term "terminating decimal" refers to a decimal number that has a finite number of digits after the decimal point and does not continue indefinitely.