2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 2.1428572 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:
2.1428572 = 2.1428572/1
Turn the top number into a whole number.
- Multiply both the top and the bottom by the same number.
- This number is: 10,000,000.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
2.1428572/1 =
(2.1428572 × 10,000,000)/(1 × 10,000,000) =
21,428,572/10,000,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
21,428,572/10,000,000
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).
21,428,572 = 22 × 11 × 487,013
10,000,000 = 27 × 57
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (22 × 11 × 487,013; 27 × 57) = 22
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
21,428,572/10,000,000 =
(22 × 11 × 487,013)/(27 × 57) =
((22 × 11 × 487,013) ÷ 22) / ((27 × 57) ÷ 22) =
(11 × 487,013)/(25 × 57) =
5,357,143/2,500,000
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.
5,357,143 ÷ 2,500,000 = 2, remainder = 357,143 ⇒
5,357,143 = 2 × 2,500,000 + 357,143 ⇒
5,357,143/2,500,000 =
(2 × 2,500,000 + 357,143) / 2,500,000 =
(2 × 2,500,000) / 2,500,000 + 357,143/2,500,000 =
2 + 357,143/2,500,000 =
2 357,143/2,500,000