2. Write the number as a proper fraction.
- 0.0372 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:
0.0372 = 0.0372/1
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.
0.0372/1 =
(0.0372 × 10,000)/(1 × 10,000) =
372/10,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
372/10,000
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).
372 = 22 × 3 × 31
10,000 = 24 × 54
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (22 × 3 × 31; 24 × 54) = 22
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
372/10,000 =
(22 × 3 × 31)/(24 × 54) =
((22 × 3 × 31) ÷ 22) / ((24 × 54) ÷ 22) =
(3 × 31)/(22 × 54) =
93/2,500