2. Write the number as a proper fraction.
- 0.0235 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:
0.0235 = 0.0235/1
Turn the top number into a whole number.
- Multiply both the top and the bottom by the same number.
- This number is: 10,000.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
0.0235/1 =
(0.0235 × 10,000)/(1 × 10,000) =
235/10,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
235/10,000
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).
235 = 5 × 47
10,000 = 24 × 54
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (5 × 47; 24 × 54) = 5
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
235/10,000 =
(5 × 47)/(24 × 54) =
((5 × 47) ÷ 5) / ((24 × 54) ÷ 5) =
47/(24 × 53) =
47/2,000