Is there a way to calculate the number of non-repeating digits that precede the periodic repeating portion of a decimal expansion?  For example:

1/6 = 0.1666....  (there is 1 non repeating digit) **(Correction)
1/12 = 0.08333... (there are 2 non repeating digits)
7/12 = 0.58333....(there are 2 non repeating digits)
1/96 = 0.01041666..(there are 5 non repeating digits)

 
Do any forumulas exist for predicting the maximum length n, of the number of non repeating digits preceding the repeating portion?  

I know that if the denominator of a fraction is n, the maximum length of the repeating periodic portion is n-1.  Must also the length of the preceding portion before the cycle be n-1?

Thank you!