2. Write the number as a proper fraction.
- 0.00256 can be written as a proper fraction.
- A proper fraction = the numerator is smaller than the denominator..
Write down the number divided by 1, as a fraction:
0.00256 = 0.00256/1
Turn the top number into a whole number.
- Multiply both the top and the bottom by the same number.
- This number is: 100,000.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
0.00256/1 =
(0.00256 × 100,000)/(1 × 100,000) =
256/100,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
256/100,000
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).
256 = 28
100,000 = 25 × 55
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (28; 25 × 55) = 25
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
256/100,000 =
28/(25 × 55) =
(28 ÷ 25) / ((25 × 55) ÷ 25) =
23/55 =
8/3,125