2. Write the number as a proper fraction.
- 0.005 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:
0.005 = 0.005/1
Turn the top number into a whole number.
- Multiply both the top and the bottom by the same number.
- This number is: 1,000.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
0.005/1 =
(0.005 × 1,000)/(1 × 1,000) =
5/1,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
5/1,000
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).
5 is a prime number, it cannot be factored into other prime factors
1,000 = 23 × 53
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (5; 23 × 53) = 5
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
5/1,000 =
5/(23 × 53) =
(5 ÷ 5) / ((23 × 53) ÷ 5) =
1/(23 × 52) =
1/200