Understanding .4375 as a Fraction
Have you ever encountered the decimal .4375 and wondered how to express it as a fraction? It might seem tricky at first, but converting decimals to fractions is a straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you understand how to represent .4375 as a fraction.
1. Recognize the Decimal Place Value
The first step is to identify the place value of the last digit in the decimal. In .4375, the last digit, 5, is in the ten-thousandths place. This means it represents 5 out of 10,000.
2. Create the Fraction
Now, we can write the decimal as a fraction:
.4375 = 4375/10000
3. Simplify the Fraction
The fraction 4375/10000 is not in its simplest form. To simplify, find the greatest common factor (GCF) of 4375 and 10000. The GCF of these numbers is 125.
Dividing both the numerator and denominator by 125, we get:
(4375 / 125) / (10000 / 125) = 35/80
4. Further Simplification
The fraction 35/80 can be further simplified by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their GCF, which is 5:
(35 / 5) / (80 / 5) = 7/16
Conclusion
Therefore, .4375 expressed as a fraction in its simplest form is 7/16.
By following these simple steps, you can confidently convert any decimal to a fraction. Remember to always simplify the fraction to its lowest terms.