2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 3.168 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:
3.168 = 3.168/1
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.
3.168/1 =
(3.168 × 1,000)/(1 × 1,000) =
3,168/1,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
3,168/1,000
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).
3,168 = 25 × 32 × 11
1,000 = 23 × 53
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (25 × 32 × 11; 23 × 53) = 23
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
3,168/1,000 =
(25 × 32 × 11)/(23 × 53) =
((25 × 32 × 11) ÷ 23) / ((23 × 53) ÷ 23) =
(22 × 32 × 11)/53 =
396/125