2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 4.61118 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:
4.61118 = 4.61118/1
Turn the top number into a whole number.
- Multiply both the top and the bottom by the same number.
- This number is: 100,000.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
4.61118/1 =
(4.61118 × 100,000)/(1 × 100,000) =
461,118/100,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
461,118/100,000
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).
461,118 = 2 × 3 × 7 × 10,979
100,000 = 25 × 55
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (2 × 3 × 7 × 10,979; 25 × 55) = 2
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
461,118/100,000 =
(2 × 3 × 7 × 10,979)/(25 × 55) =
((2 × 3 × 7 × 10,979) ÷ 2) / ((25 × 55) ÷ 2) =
(3 × 7 × 10,979)/(24 × 55) =
230,559/50,000
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.
230,559 ÷ 50,000 = 4, remainder = 30,559 ⇒
230,559 = 4 × 50,000 + 30,559 ⇒
230,559/50,000 =
(4 × 50,000 + 30,559) / 50,000 =
(4 × 50,000) / 50,000 + 30,559/50,000 =
4 + 30,559/50,000 =
4 30,559/50,000