2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 3.555555556 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:
3.555555556 = 3.555555556/1
Turn the top number into a whole number.
- Multiply both the top and the bottom by the same number.
- This number is: 1,000,000,000.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
3.555555556/1 =
(3.555555556 × 1,000,000,000)/(1 × 1,000,000,000) =
3,555,555,556/1,000,000,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
3,555,555,556/1,000,000,000
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).
3,555,555,556 = 22 × 7 × 23 × 29 × 61 × 3,121
1,000,000,000 = 29 × 59
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (22 × 7 × 23 × 29 × 61 × 3,121; 29 × 59) = 22
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
3,555,555,556/1,000,000,000 =
(22 × 7 × 23 × 29 × 61 × 3,121)/(29 × 59) =
((22 × 7 × 23 × 29 × 61 × 3,121) ÷ 22) / ((29 × 59) ÷ 22) =
(7 × 23 × 29 × 61 × 3,121)/(27 × 59) =
888,888,889/250,000,000
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.
888,888,889 ÷ 250,000,000 = 3, remainder = 138,888,889 ⇒
888,888,889 = 3 × 250,000,000 + 138,888,889 ⇒
888,888,889/250,000,000 =
(3 × 250,000,000 + 138,888,889) / 250,000,000 =
(3 × 250,000,000) / 250,000,000 + 138,888,889/250,000,000 =
3 + 138,888,889/250,000,000 =
3 138,888,889/250,000,000