2. Write the mixed repeating (recurring) decimal number as a proper fraction.
0.357 can be written as a proper fraction.
- The numerator is smaller than the denominator.
Set up the first equation.
- Let y equal the decimal number:
y = 0.357
Set up the second equation.
- Number of decimal places repeating: 2
Multiply both sides of the first equation by 102 = 100
y = 0.357
100 × y = 100 × 0.357
100 × y = 35.757
Subtract the first equation from the second one.
- Having the same number of decimal places ...
- The repeating pattern drops off by subtracting the two equations.
100 × y - y = 35.757 - 0.357 ⇒
(100 - 1) × y = 35.757 - 0.357 ⇒
We now have a new equation:
99 × y = 35.4
Solve for y in the new equation.
99 × y = 35.4 ⇒
y = 35.4/99
Let the result written as a fraction.
Now we can write the number as a fraction.
According to our first equation:
y = 0.357
According to our calculations:
y = 35.4/99
⇒ 0.357 = 35.4/99
Get rid of the decimal places in the fraction above.
- Multiply the top and the bottom number by 10.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
0.357 = (35.4 × 10)/(99 × 10)
0.357 = 354/990
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
354/990
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).
354 = 2 × 3 × 59
990 = 2 × 32 × 5 × 11
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (2 × 3 × 59; 2 × 32 × 5 × 11) = 2 × 3
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
354/990 =
(2 × 3 × 59)/(2 × 32 × 5 × 11) =
((2 × 3 × 59) ÷ (2 × 3)) / ((2 × 32 × 5 × 11) ÷ (2 × 3)) =
59/(3 × 5 × 11) =
59/165