2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 25.736 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:
25.736 = 25.736/1
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.
25.736/1 =
(25.736 × 1,000)/(1 × 1,000) =
25,736/1,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
25,736/1,000
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).
25,736 = 23 × 3,217
1,000 = 23 × 53
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (23 × 3,217; 23 × 53) = 23
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
25,736/1,000 =
(23 × 3,217)/(23 × 53) =
((23 × 3,217) ÷ 23) / ((23 × 53) ÷ 23) =
3,217/53 =
3,217/125
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.
3,217 ÷ 125 = 25, remainder = 92 ⇒
3,217 = 25 × 125 + 92 ⇒
3,217/125 =
(25 × 125 + 92) / 125 =
(25 × 125) / 125 + 92/125 =
25 + 92/125 =
25 92/125