2. Write the number as a proper fraction.
- 0.296 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:
0.296 = 0.296/1
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.
0.296/1 =
(0.296 × 1,000)/(1 × 1,000) =
296/1,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
296/1,000
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).
296 = 23 × 37
1,000 = 23 × 53
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (23 × 37; 23 × 53) = 23
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
296/1,000 =
(23 × 37)/(23 × 53) =
((23 × 37) ÷ 23) / ((23 × 53) ÷ 23) =
37/53 =
37/125