How do you change 18.375 into a fraction?

1 Answer
Oct 29, 2015

Multiply by #2# three times, then deduce:

#18.375 = 147/8#

Explanation:

The quickest way is just to multiply it by #1000# to find:

#18.375 = 18375/1000#

but this is not in lowest terms.

Alternatively, work step by step as follows:

#18.375# ends with a #5#, so try multiplying by #2#...

#18.375 xx 2 = 36.75#

#36.75# ends with a #5#, so try multiplying by #2#...

#36.75 xx 2 = 73.5#

#73.5# ends with a #5#, so multiply by #2#...

#73.5 xx 2 = 147#

Then since we multiplied by #2# three times, divide by #2# three times to find:

#18.375 = 147/(2 xx 2 xx 2) = 147/8#