2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 2.58336 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:
2.58336 = 2.58336/1
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.
2.58336/1 =
(2.58336 × 100,000)/(1 × 100,000) =
258,336/100,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
258,336/100,000
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).
258,336 = 25 × 33 × 13 × 23
100,000 = 25 × 55
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (25 × 33 × 13 × 23; 25 × 55) = 25
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
258,336/100,000 =
(25 × 33 × 13 × 23)/(25 × 55) =
((25 × 33 × 13 × 23) ÷ 25) / ((25 × 55) ÷ 25) =
(33 × 13 × 23)/55 =
8,073/3,125
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.
8,073 ÷ 3,125 = 2, remainder = 1,823 ⇒
8,073 = 2 × 3,125 + 1,823 ⇒
8,073/3,125 =
(2 × 3,125 + 1,823) / 3,125 =
(2 × 3,125) / 3,125 + 1,823/3,125 =
2 + 1,823/3,125 =
2 1,823/3,125