Re: Subtract Hours From A Given Date

The algorithm used to be taught at around age 11 - 12 in the UK.

Take the recurring decimal. Count the number of digits that recur. Multiple by that power of 10. Subtract the original number. This gives:

10 ^ N - 1 = Terminating decimal expression.

Scale up, cross divide and reduce:

e.g.

        0.2845845845845845.......
has 3 recurring figures, so multply by 1000 to get 1000 X = 284.584584584......

subtract the number you first though

        284.584584584 .......

• 000.284584584 .......

  ---

  284.3000000000.......

So 999 R = 284.3

Hence 9990 R = 2843

   R = 2843 / 9999

Reduction to lowest form is left as an exercise The two numbers appear to be co-prime at first glance, so I'm not going to try factoring.

--

Jonathan Lewis
Yet another Oracle-related web site: http://www.jlcomp.demon.co.uk

Kenneth C Stahl wrote in message <37DCE4F1.B6D3C1BB_at_Unforgettable.com>...
> Opinions are mine and do not necessarily reflect those of Oracle
Corporation
>
>I would believe you if you could be given the number of 0.2083333333333
and work
>backwards to determine that it is the ratio of 5/24 - I suspect that isn't
possible.
>
>I'm trying to get some clarification from my wife on this. She knows far
more about the
>subject than I do since she has a degree in Math.
>
Received on Mon Sep 13 1999 - 07:20:11 CDT