2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 71.66667 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:
71.66667 = 71.66667/1
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.
71.66667/1 =
(71.66667 × 100,000)/(1 × 100,000) =
7,166,667/100,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
7,166,667/100,000
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).
7,166,667 = 3 × 19 × 125,731
100,000 = 25 × 55
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 × 19 × 125,731; 25 × 55) = 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.
7,166,667 ÷ 100,000 = 71, remainder = 66,667 ⇒
7,166,667 = 71 × 100,000 + 66,667 ⇒
7,166,667/100,000 =
(71 × 100,000 + 66,667) / 100,000 =
(71 × 100,000) / 100,000 + 66,667/100,000 =
71 + 66,667/100,000 =
71 66,667/100,000