What is 7.42 as a fraction? Tutorial in mathshowcase.info

Converting decimals to fractions can be useful in many situations. Let's go through the steps to convert a decimal 7.42 to a fraction.

You can try other values to get more familiar with the conversion process.

Often, convert 7.4 to a fraction or 7.4375 to a fraction, depending on the task.

Understanding the decimal: “7.42”

A decimal number consists of an integer part and a fractional part, separated by a decimal point. The integer part is on the left, and the fractional part is on the right. For example, in 7.42, 7 is the integer part and 42 is the fractional part.

Conversion Explanation:

For the numerator:
- We start with the number 7.42.
- By removing the decimal point, we derive the numerator as 742.
For the denominator:
- Each position after the decimal represents a division by 10.
- Thus, having 2 positions after the decimal equates to 100 or 10².
Factors:
- The factors for the numerator and the denominator are numbers that can evenly divide each of them.
- For instance, the factors of 742 include 1, 2, 7, 14, 53, 106, 371, and 742.
- The factors of 100 comprise 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, and 100.
Greatest Common Divisor (GCD):
- It's the largest number that can evenly divide both the numerator and the denominator.
- In this instance, the GCD for 742 and 100 is 2.

The factors of 742 are:

1 2 7 14 53 106 371 742

The factors of 100 are:

1 2 4 5 10 20 25 50 100

Conversion formula (equation):

$7.42 = \frac{7.42}{1} = \frac{7.42 × 100}{1 × 100} = \frac{742}{100} = \frac{742÷2}{100÷2} = \frac{371}{50}$

Solution:

7.42 = $\frac{371}{50}$

What is a decimal?

A decimal is a numeral system that includes a point to separate the whole number part from the fractional part. This system makes it easy to work with numbers less than one.

What is a fraction?

A fraction is a mathematical way of showing a part of a whole. It has two parts: the numerator on top and the denominator below, which help express partial values and comparisons.

Step-by-step solution:

Step 1: First, write the decimal as a fraction over 1. This sets up the next steps. 7.42 = $\frac{7.42}{1}$
Step 2: Decimals can have different lengths. We will align the number of digits after the decimal point. For 7.42, we have three digits. This means multiplying the fraction by a factor of 10 for each digit. Factor = 10² = 100
Step 3: Using this factor, multiply both the numerator and the denominator. $\frac{7.42 × 100}{1 × 100}$ = $\frac{742}{100}$
Step 4: Now we need to simplify the fraction by finding common divisors. The greatest common divisor is 2. Divide both the numerator and the denominator by this common divisor. $\frac{742 ÷ 2}{100 ÷ 2}$ = $\frac{371}{50}$

Answer in mixed fraction format:

7.42 =

7

21

50

What is 7.42 as a fraction?