2. Write the number as a proper fraction.
- 0.25 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:
0.25 = 0.25/1
Turn the top number into a whole number.
- Multiply both the top and the bottom by the same number.
- This number is: 100.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
0.25/1 =
(0.25 × 100)/(1 × 100) =
25/100
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
25/100
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).
25 = 52
100 = 22 × 52
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (52; 22 × 52) = 52
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
25/100 =
52/(22 × 52) =
(52 ÷ 52) / ((22 × 52) ÷ 52) =
1/22 =
1/4