2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 400.008 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:
400.008 = 400.008/1
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.
400.008/1 =
(400.008 × 1,000)/(1 × 1,000) =
400,008/1,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
400,008/1,000
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).
400,008 = 23 × 3 × 7 × 2,381
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 × 7 × 2,381; 23 × 53) = 23
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
400,008/1,000 =
(23 × 3 × 7 × 2,381)/(23 × 53) =
((23 × 3 × 7 × 2,381) ÷ 23) / ((23 × 53) ÷ 23) =
(3 × 7 × 2,381)/53 =
50,001/125
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.
50,001 ÷ 125 = 400, remainder = 1 ⇒
50,001 = 400 × 125 + 1 ⇒
50,001/125 =
(400 × 125 + 1) / 125 =
(400 × 125) / 125 + 1/125 =
400 + 1/125 =
400 1/125