which of the following rational numbers can be expressed as a repeating decimal: 7/8,5/12,17/25, or 31/40

The rational numbers that can be expressed as a repeating decimal are those with denominators that are not powers of 2 or 5.

Out of the given options, 5/12 and 17/25 can be expressed as repeating decimals.

5/12 = 0.416666... (repeating decimal)

17/25 = 0.68 (decimal) = 0.680000... (repeating decimal)

Therefore, the rational numbers that can be expressed as repeating decimals are 5/12 and 17/25.