Terminating Decimals – Definition, Theorem, Examples
Updated on November 27, 2025
When it comes to learning about numbers and improving your number sense, decimals are a key piece of that puzzle. But did you know there are different types of decimals? One of the types you’ll encounter frequently is the terminating decimal. This type of decimal ends after a certain number of digits — aka, they are definite and not indefinite or recurring.
In this article, we’ll define terminating decimal and cover how to recognise them as well as delve into various theorems aimed to simplify your work with them. We’ll also share practice problems with you so you can test your brand-new expertise!
What is a terminating decimal?
The terminating decimal meaning is a number that ends after a finite number of digits — aka, it terminates. So if you’re asking, “What is a decimal that terminates?” it’s a number whose decimal expansion does not go on infinitely, and the final decimal place is not recurring. The decimal 1.54 is an example of terminating decimal because it ends after the hundredths place.
Because all terminating decimals are rational numbers, they can also be written in the form of fractions. So, in our above example, 1.54 becomes 154/100, which can be simplified to 77/50.