The answer is a rational number is one integer divided by another, and can be represented in either decimal of fraction form. The explanation behind this is visualize you are using long division to divide one number by one more. You divide, and then you acquire a remainder. Then you carry down a zero (multiply by ten) and divide again. Well, there are only so many balances you could perhaps have. For example, for 5, your choices are 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. Sooner or later, you will replicate a remainder, at which fact you will just keep dividing the same method you did last time you saw that remainder -- and that's the reason why it repeats.