2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 1.18456 can be written as an improper fraction.
- An improper fraction = the numerator is larger than or equal to the denominator..
Write down the number divided by 1, as a fraction:
1.18456 = 1.18456/1
Turn the top number into a whole number.
- Multiply both the top and the bottom by the same number.
- This number is: 100,000.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
1.18456/1 =
(1.18456 × 100,000)/(1 × 100,000) =
118,456/100,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
118,456/100,000
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).
118,456 = 23 × 13 × 17 × 67
100,000 = 25 × 55
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (23 × 13 × 17 × 67; 25 × 55) = 23
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
118,456/100,000 =
(23 × 13 × 17 × 67)/(25 × 55) =
((23 × 13 × 17 × 67) ÷ 23) / ((25 × 55) ÷ 23) =
(13 × 17 × 67)/(22 × 55) =
14,807/12,500
4. The fraction is an improper one, rewrite it as a mixed number (mixed fraction):
- A mixed number = an integer number and a proper fraction, of the same sign.
- Example 1: 2 1/5; Example 2: - 1 3/7.
- A proper fraction = the numerator is smaller than the denominator.
14,807 ÷ 12,500 = 1, remainder = 2,307 ⇒
14,807 = 1 × 12,500 + 2,307 ⇒
14,807/12,500 =
(1 × 12,500 + 2,307) / 12,500 =
(1 × 12,500) / 12,500 + 2,307/12,500 =
1 + 2,307/12,500 =
1 2,307/12,500