Any repeating decimal can be converted to an exact fraction by aligning the repeating block through multiplication, then subtracting to cancel the infinite tail.
**Method** (non-repeat length *k*, repeat length *m*):
- Multiply *x* by 10^k and by 10^(k+m)
- Subtract to eliminate the repeating part
- Solve: *x = integer / (10^(k+m) − 10^k)*
**Worked example** — 1.05222… (k=2, m=1):
```
1000x = 1052.222...
100x = 105.222...
─────────────────
900x = 947 → x = 947/900
```
**Pure repeat** (k=0): 0.̄3 → 10x − x = 3 → x = 1/3.
The method works because any rational number either terminates or repeats — the algebraic subtraction extracts the exact fraction from the infinite decimal.
## Cross-Domain Applications
**Finance**: Exact interest rates (e.g. 6.̄6% = 20/3 %) matter for compound interest calculations.
**Computer science**: Floating-point representation loses precision on repeating decimals; knowing the exact fraction avoids accumulated rounding error.
## References
- Math Academy, Mathematical Foundations I (2026-04-22)