2. Write the number as a proper fraction.
- 0.02538 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:
0.02538 = 0.02538/1
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.
0.02538/1 =
(0.02538 × 100,000)/(1 × 100,000) =
2,538/100,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
2,538/100,000
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).
2,538 = 2 × 33 × 47
100,000 = 25 × 55
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (2 × 33 × 47; 25 × 55) = 2
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
2,538/100,000 =
(2 × 33 × 47)/(25 × 55) =
((2 × 33 × 47) ÷ 2) / ((25 × 55) ÷ 2) =
(33 × 47)/(24 × 55) =
1,269/50,000