2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 35.9 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:
35.9 = 35.9/1
Turn the top number into a whole number.
- Multiply both the top and the bottom by the same number.
- This number is: 10.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
35.9/1 =
(35.9 × 10)/(1 × 10) =
359/10
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
359/10
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).
359 is a prime number, it cannot be factored into other prime factors
10 = 2 × 5
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
But, the numerator and the denominator have no common factors.
GCF (359; 2 × 5) = 1
The numerator and the denominator are coprime numbers (no common prime factors, GCF = 1). So, the fraction cannot be reduced (simplified): irreducible fraction.