2. Write the pure repeating (recurring) decimal number as a proper fraction.
0.000088 can be written as a proper fraction.
- The numerator is smaller than the denominator.
Set up the first equation.
- Let y equal the decimal number:
y = 0.000088
Set up the second equation.
- Number of decimal places repeating: 6
Multiply both sides of the first equation by 106 = 1,000,000
y = 0.000088
1,000,000 × y = 1,000,000 × 0.000088
1,000,000 × y = 88.000088
Subtract the first equation from the second one.
- Having the same number of decimal places ...
- The repeating pattern drops off by subtracting the two equations.
1,000,000 × y - y = 88.000088 - 0.000088 ⇒
(1,000,000 - 1) × y = 88.000088 - 0.000088 ⇒
We now have a new equation:
999,999 × y = 88
Solve for y in the new equation.
999,999 × y = 88 ⇒
y = 88/999,999
Let the result written as a fraction.
Now we can write the number as a fraction.
According to our first equation:
y = 0.000088
According to our calculations:
y = 88/999,999
⇒ 0.000088 = 88/999,999
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
88/999,999
to the lowest terms, to its simplest equivalent form, irreducible.
To reduce a fraction to the lowest terms divide the numerator and denominator by their greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Factor the numerator and denominator (prime factorization).
88 = 23 × 11
999,999 = 33 × 7 × 11 × 13 × 37
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (23 × 11; 33 × 7 × 11 × 13 × 37) = 11
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
88/999,999 =
(23 × 11)/(33 × 7 × 11 × 13 × 37) =
((23 × 11) ÷ 11) / ((33 × 7 × 11 × 13 × 37) ÷ 11) =
23/(33 × 7 × 13 × 37) =
8/90,909