2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 3.176 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:
3.176 = 3.176/1
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.
3.176/1 =
(3.176 × 1,000)/(1 × 1,000) =
3,176/1,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
3,176/1,000
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).
3,176 = 23 × 397
1,000 = 23 × 53
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (23 × 397; 23 × 53) = 23
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
3,176/1,000 =
(23 × 397)/(23 × 53) =
((23 × 397) ÷ 23) / ((23 × 53) ÷ 23) =
397/53 =
397/125