2. Write the number as a proper fraction.
- 0.5338 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:
0.5338 = 0.5338/1
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.
0.5338/1 =
(0.5338 × 10,000)/(1 × 10,000) =
5,338/10,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
5,338/10,000
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).
5,338 = 2 × 17 × 157
10,000 = 24 × 54
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (2 × 17 × 157; 24 × 54) = 2
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
5,338/10,000 =
(2 × 17 × 157)/(24 × 54) =
((2 × 17 × 157) ÷ 2) / ((24 × 54) ÷ 2) =
(17 × 157)/(23 × 54) =
2,669/5,000