2. Write the number as a proper fraction.
- 0.596 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:
0.596 = 0.596/1
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.
0.596/1 =
(0.596 × 1,000)/(1 × 1,000) =
596/1,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
596/1,000
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).
596 = 22 × 149
1,000 = 23 × 53
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (22 × 149; 23 × 53) = 22
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
596/1,000 =
(22 × 149)/(23 × 53) =
((22 × 149) ÷ 22) / ((23 × 53) ÷ 22) =
149/(2 × 53) =
149/250