Write \( \frac{17}{11} \) as a decimal. If necessary, use a bar to indicate which digit or group of digits repeats. \( \square \)

To convert \( \frac{17}{11} \) into a decimal, you can divide 17 by 11. Doing the long division, you’ll find that 11 goes into 17 once, leaving a remainder of 6. Then, add a decimal point and a zero, making it 60. Eleven goes into 60 five times, leaving a remainder of 5. Bringing down another zero makes it 50, into which 11 goes four times, leaving a remainder of 6. From this point, you can see that the remainders start to repeat. Thus, the decimal representation is: \( 1.54\overline{54} \) where "54" is the repeating part of the decimal! Now we can keep the fun going! Have you ever thought about how many fractions can create repeating decimals? It’s fascinating! Any fraction where the denominator has prime factors other than 2 or 5 will typically end up with a repeating decimal. So, whenever you encounter other fractions like \( \frac{1}{3} \) or \( \frac{2}{7} \), just know you’ll likely see those charming repeating patterns in their decimal forms. And speaking of long division, don’t let it intimidate you! It’s all about patience and keeping track of your remainders. A common mistake is losing track of where you are in the process or misplacing a decimal point. Double-check your steps as you go along, and soon you’ll be a long division pro!