2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 2.58338 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:
2.58338 = 2.58338/1
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.
2.58338/1 =
(2.58338 × 100,000)/(1 × 100,000) =
258,338/100,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
258,338/100,000
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).
258,338 = 2 × 129,169
100,000 = 25 × 55
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (2 × 129,169; 25 × 55) = 2
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
258,338/100,000 =
(2 × 129,169)/(25 × 55) =
((2 × 129,169) ÷ 2) / ((25 × 55) ÷ 2) =
129,169/(24 × 55) =
129,169/50,000
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.
129,169 ÷ 50,000 = 2, remainder = 29,169 ⇒
129,169 = 2 × 50,000 + 29,169 ⇒
129,169/50,000 =
(2 × 50,000 + 29,169) / 50,000 =
(2 × 50,000) / 50,000 + 29,169/50,000 =
2 + 29,169/50,000 =
2 29,169/50,000