To put something into a fraction, you need to express it as a ratio of two numbers: a numerator (the top number) and a denominator (the bottom number). The denominator indicates how many total parts there are, and the numerator indicates how many of those parts you have.
Here's a breakdown of how to put different types of values into fraction form:
1. Whole Numbers:
- To express a whole number as a fraction, simply put the whole number as the numerator and 1 as the denominator.
- Example: 5 can be written as 5/1.
2. Decimals:
- Identify the place value of the last digit: Determine whether the decimal extends to the tenths, hundredths, thousandths place, and so on.
- Write the decimal as a fraction: The decimal value becomes the numerator. The denominator is 1 followed by the same number of zeros as the number of digits after the decimal point.
- Example: 0.36 has two digits after the decimal, so it represents 36/100.
- Simplify the fraction (if possible): Find the greatest common factor (GCF) of the numerator and denominator and divide both by it.
- Example: 36/100 can be simplified to 9/25 (both 36 and 100 are divisible by 4).
3. Percentages:
- Write the percentage as a fraction with a denominator of 100: Remember that "percent" means "out of one hundred".
- Example: 75% is equal to 75/100.
- Simplify the fraction (if possible): Reduce the fraction to its simplest form by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their GCF.
- Example: 75/100 can be simplified to 3/4 (both 75 and 100 are divisible by 25).
4. Ratios:
- Ratios are already in a form that is easily converted to a fraction.
- A ratio of 2:3 can be expressed as the fraction 2/3.
5. Mixed Numbers:
- Convert to an improper fraction: Multiply the whole number by the denominator and add the numerator. Keep the same denominator.
- Example: 2 1/4. (2 * 4) + 1 = 9. So, 2 1/4 = 9/4
In summary, putting something into a fraction involves representing it as a part of a whole, expressed as a numerator over a denominator. The specific steps depend on the original form of the number.
