the teach wrote at 2006-09-12 06:54:47
In simple terms, as I am an 8th grade math teacher and have to find simplest ways to explain things.
Set up simultaneous equations, lets use the decimal 0.123123123...
So 1 equation is x= 0.123123....
Now make an equation with the same x, putting 1 whole repeating sequence before the decimal.
So 1000x = 123.123123....
It became 1000x because we moved the decimal over 3 spaces to put one "123" before the decimal
(since multiply by 1,000 you just move the decimal over 3 spaces)
now subtract 1 equation from the other
1000x = 123.123123....
- x = 0.123123....
------------------------
999x = 123 (notice the decimals cancel out)
