# Thread: Fractions and decimal point combined

1. ## Fractions and decimal point combined

Is it wrong to write 5.58 followed by one third for instance? The number I am imagining is 5.58333333333. I know I could put a dot over the first 3 and omit the rest.

3. Originally Posted by wonderboy1953
Yes, that's the crucial point. In general it is not good practice to combine decimals and fractions. In this particular case the reader might think you meant $\displaystyle 5.58+ \frac{1}{3}= 5.913333\cdot\cdot\cdot$. Perhaps it would be best to use just the fraction: $\displaystyle 5\frac{525}{900}$ or even $\displaystyle \frac{5025}{900}$.

4. Originally Posted by Stuck Man
Is it wrong to write 5.58 followed by one third for instance? The number I am imagining is 5.58333333333. I know I could put a dot over the first 3 and omit the rest.
I would not write $\displaystyle 5.58\frac{1}{3}$, but if it's convenient you can define notation however you want, as long as you do so clearly.

Options that are more standard:

$\displaystyle 5.58+\frac{1}{300}$

$\displaystyle 5.58\overline{3}$

$\displaystyle 5.58(3)$

$\displaystyle \frac{67}{12}$

$\displaystyle 5.58333\dots$