2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 7.142857143 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:
7.142857143 = 7.142857143/1
Turn the top number into a whole number.
- Multiply both the top and the bottom by the same number.
- This number is: 1,000,000,000.
- 1 followed by as many 0-s as the number of digits after the decimal point.
7.142857143/1 =
(7.142857143 × 1,000,000,000)/(1 × 1,000,000,000) =
7,142,857,143/1,000,000,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
7,142,857,143/1,000,000,000
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).
7,142,857,143 = 3 × 1,543 × 1,543,067
1,000,000,000 = 29 × 59
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 (3 × 1,543 × 1,543,067; 29 × 59) = 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.
7,142,857,143 ÷ 1,000,000,000 = 7, remainder = 142,857,143 ⇒
7,142,857,143 = 7 × 1,000,000,000 + 142,857,143 ⇒
7,142,857,143/1,000,000,000 =
(7 × 1,000,000,000 + 142,857,143) / 1,000,000,000 =
(7 × 1,000,000,000) / 1,000,000,000 + 142,857,143/1,000,000,000 =
7 + 142,857,143/1,000,000,000 =
7 142,857,143/1,000,000,000