2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 6.237 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:
6.237 = 6.237/1
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.
6.237/1 =
(6.237 × 1,000)/(1 × 1,000) =
6,237/1,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
6,237/1,000
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).
6,237 = 34 × 7 × 11
1,000 = 23 × 53
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 (34 × 7 × 11; 23 × 53) = 1
The numerator and the denominator are coprime numbers (no common prime factors, GCF = 1). So, the fraction cannot be reduced (simplified): irreducible fraction.
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.
6,237 ÷ 1,000 = 6, remainder = 237 ⇒
6,237 = 6 × 1,000 + 237 ⇒
6,237/1,000 =
(6 × 1,000 + 237) / 1,000 =
(6 × 1,000) / 1,000 + 237/1,000 =
6 + 237/1,000 =
6 237/1,000