2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 4.296 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:
4.296 = 4.296/1
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.
4.296/1 =
(4.296 × 1,000)/(1 × 1,000) =
4,296/1,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
4,296/1,000
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).
4,296 = 23 × 3 × 179
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 × 179; 23 × 53) = 23
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
4,296/1,000 =
(23 × 3 × 179)/(23 × 53) =
((23 × 3 × 179) ÷ 23) / ((23 × 53) ÷ 23) =
(3 × 179)/53 =
537/125