2. Write the mixed repeating (recurring) decimal number as a proper fraction.
0.529 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 = 0.529
Set up the second equation.
- Number of decimal places repeating: 1
Multiply both sides of the first equation by 101 = 10
y = 0.529
10 × y = 10 × 0.529
10 × y = 5.29
Get the same number of decimal places as for y:
10 × y = 5.299
Note: 5.299 = 5.29
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.
10 × y - y = 5.299 - 0.529 ⇒
(10 - 1) × y = 5.299 - 0.529 ⇒
We now have a new equation:
9 × y = 4.77
Solve for y in the new equation.
9 × y = 4.77 ⇒
y = 4.77/9
Let the result written as a fraction.
Now we can write the number as a fraction.
According to our first equation:
y = 0.529
According to our calculations:
y = 4.77/9
⇒ 0.529 = 4.77/9
Get rid of the decimal places in the fraction above.
- Multiply the top and the bottom number by 100.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
0.529 = (4.77 × 100)/(9 × 100)
0.529 = 477/900
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
477/900
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).
477 = 32 × 53
900 = 22 × 32 × 52
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (32 × 53; 22 × 32 × 52) = 32
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
477/900 =
(32 × 53)/(22 × 32 × 52) =
((32 × 53) ÷ 32) / ((22 × 32 × 52) ÷ 32) =
53/(22 × 52) =
53/100