2. Write the number as an improper fraction.
- 74.24516 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:
74.24516 = 74.24516/1
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.
74.24516/1 =
(74.24516 × 100,000)/(1 × 100,000) =
7,424,516/100,000
3. Reduce (simplify) the fraction above:
7,424,516/100,000
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).
7,424,516 = 22 × 11 × 19 × 83 × 107
100,000 = 25 × 55
Calculate the greatest (highest) common factor (divisor), GCF.
Multiply all the common prime factors by the lowest exponents.
GCF (22 × 11 × 19 × 83 × 107; 25 × 55) = 22
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
7,424,516/100,000 =
(22 × 11 × 19 × 83 × 107)/(25 × 55) =
((22 × 11 × 19 × 83 × 107) ÷ 22) / ((25 × 55) ÷ 22) =
(11 × 19 × 83 × 107)/(23 × 55) =
1,856,129/25,000
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.
1,856,129 ÷ 25,000 = 74, remainder = 6,129 ⇒
1,856,129 = 74 × 25,000 + 6,129 ⇒
1,856,129/25,000 =
(74 × 25,000 + 6,129) / 25,000 =
(74 × 25,000) / 25,000 + 6,129/25,000 =
74 + 6,129/25,000 =
74 6,129/25,000