2. Write the number as a proper fraction.
- 0.5128 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:
0.5128 = 0.5128/1
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.
0.5128/1 =
(0.5128 × 10,000)/(1 × 10,000) =
5,128/10,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
5,128/10,000
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).
5,128 = 23 × 641
10,000 = 24 × 54
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (23 × 641; 24 × 54) = 23
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
5,128/10,000 =
(23 × 641)/(24 × 54) =
((23 × 641) ÷ 23) / ((24 × 54) ÷ 23) =
641/(2 × 54) =
641/1,250