2. Write the mixed repeating (recurring) decimal number as a proper fraction.
0.003 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 = 0.003
Set up the second equation.
- Number of decimal places repeating: 2
Multiply both sides of the first equation by 102 = 100
y = 0.003
100 × y = 100 × 0.003
100 × y = 0.303
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.
100 × y - y = 0.303 - 0.003 ⇒
(100 - 1) × y = 0.303 - 0.003 ⇒
We now have a new equation:
99 × y = 0.3
Solve for y in the new equation.
99 × y = 0.3 ⇒
y = 0.3/99
Let the result written as a fraction.
Now we can write the number as a fraction.
According to our first equation:
y = 0.003
According to our calculations:
y = 0.3/99
⇒ 0.003 = 0.3/99
Get rid of the decimal places in the fraction above.
- Multiply the top and the bottom number by 10.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
0.003 = (0.3 × 10)/(99 × 10)
0.003 = 3/990
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
3/990
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).
3 is a prime number, it cannot be factored into other prime factors
990 = 2 × 32 × 5 × 11
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (3; 2 × 32 × 5 × 11) = 3
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
3/990 =
3/(2 × 32 × 5 × 11) =
(3 ÷ 3) / ((2 × 32 × 5 × 11) ÷ 3) =
1/(2 × 3 × 5 × 11) =
1/330